Summary figures from 2016

• There was an equal proportion of male and female admissions.
• The 20–24 years age group had the highest rate of admission, at 549.4 per 100,000 of the population. This was followed by the 65–74 years age group at 547.2. 
• The lowest rate of admissions was among 25-34 year olds at 434.9 per 100,000.
• The 18–19 years age group had the highest rate of first admissions, at 300.2 per 100,000.
• Almost 6 in 10 of all admissions were single people.
• Married persons accounted for 25% of all admissions, widowed accounted for 4%, divorced accounted for 4% also. 
• While divorced people accounted for only 4% of all admissions, they had the highest rate of all admissions at 764.5 per 100,000.
• Almost 41% of all admissions in 2016 were unemployed.
• Homeless people accounted for 271 admissions of in 2016. Seventy-three per cent were male and 82% were single.

In terms of diagnosis

• Depression, schizophrenia, mania and alcoholic disorders were the main diagnosis for admissions.
• The most common diagnosis recorded for all admissions was depressive disorders, accounting for 27% of all, 29% of first admissions and the highest rate of all (102.5) and first (38.1) admissions.
• Schizophrenia accounted for 20% of all, 14% of first and had the second-highest rate of all admissions (74.7 per 100,000).
• Mania accounted for 11% of all admissions.
• Alcoholic disorders accounted for 7% of all admissions.

Involuntary admissions

• Involuntary admissions accounted for 13% of all and 14% of first admissions, showing a small rise from 2015 (12% for all and 13% for first). 
• All admission for schizophrenia had the highest rate of involuntary admission at 19.4 per 100,000.
• 18% of all admissions to psychiatric hospitals/continual care units and 16% of admissions to general hospital psychiatric units were involuntary, compared with 2% of admissions to independent/private and private charitable centres.

Discharges and deaths

• There were 17,175 discharges from and 151 deaths in Irish psychiatric units and hospitals. 
• Males accounted for 54% of all deaths and 81% of those who died were aged 65 years and over.
• Ninety-two per cent of all and 93% of first admissions in 2016 were discharged within the year.
• The average length of stay for all discharges was 57.7days (median 15 days).
• Over one third (35%) of all discharges from both general hospital psychiatric units and from psychiatric hospitals/continuing care units (34%) were discharged within one week of admission, compared with 15% of discharges from independent/private and private charitable centres.

Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs)

• Admission rates were highest for CHO* 9 at 413.1 per 100,000, and lowest in CHO 8 at 349.8 per 100,000 of the population.

Hospital type

• 59% of all admissions in 2016 were to general hospital psychiatric units, 25% were to independent/private and private charitable centres, and 17% were to psychiatric hospitals/continuing care units.
• Admissions to independent/private and private charitable centres had an older age profile (average 51 year) than either general hospital psychiatric units (42 years) or psychiatric hospitals/continuing care units (45 years).

Young people under 18 years of age (child and adolescent services)

• There were 506 admissions to all hospital types for under 18s in 2016, an increase of 3 since 2015 (503). 81% were being admitted for the first time.
• There were 439 admissions to dedicated child and adolescent units.
• There were 67 children or 13% of all admissions admitted to adult units and hospitals. 
• Females accounted for 64% of all and first admissions. 
• Depressive disorders accounted for 33% of all and 35% of first admissions for under-18s, 12% had a diagnosis of neurosis, 12% had a diagnosis of eating disorders and 11% had a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
• Females accounted for 73% of all admissions with depressive disorders, 93% of admissions with eating disorders, and 56% of admissions with neuroses.
• Males accounted for 55% with a primary admission diagnosis of schizophrenia and 71% of admissions with other drug disorders. 
• Eighty-three per cent of under-18s admitted in 2016 were discharged in 2016. The average length of stay for those admitted and discharged in 2016 was 47.3 days (median 38 days).
• Of those admitted and discharged in 2016, 17% were discharged within one week of admission, 5% were discharged within one to two weeks, 16% were discharged within two to four weeks, 49% were discharged within one to three months and 13% were discharged within three months to one year.