Mental health, alcohol and other drug services
A comprehensive mental health, alcohol and other drug service system includes population-based universal services such as promotion and prevention, as well as a range of bed-based and community treatment and support services for people living with a mental illness or problematic substance use or dependence.
The Queensland and Commonwealth governments work in partnership to provide a range of primary care, non-government, private and public specialist mental health, alcohol and other drug services.
Queensland Health mental health alcohol and other drug services provide treatment, harm reduction, care and support to people experiencing severe mental illness and/or problematic alcohol and other drug use and dependence, and people experiencing mental health crisis, including suicidality.
Mental health and wellbeing
For information about mental health and wellbeing and how to seek help, visit the Queensland Government mental health and wellbeing website.
Alcohol and other drugs support
For support with alcohol and other drug concerns, visit the Adis 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support website.
Mental health, alcohol and other drugs service capability
Capability measures, including information related to staff, beds and nurse-to-patient ratios, provide an indication of Queensland Health’s ability to provide mental health, alcohol and other drug services through public hospitals, residential and community-based facilities.
Nurse-to-patient ratios in adult acute mental health wards
There is clear evidence to indicate that the number of nurses on a shift plays an important role in patient safety and quality of care. The Queensland Government legislated minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in the state’s public sector adult acute mental health wards on 15 November 2019.
For in-scope adult acute mental health wards, the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2023 sets minimum nurse staffing ratios at 1:4 for morning shifts, 1:4 for afternoon shifts, and 1:7 for night shifts, relative to the number of patients on the ward.
The existing industrially mandated Business Planning Framework (PDF 3162 kB) will continue to apply across all nursing and midwifery services in Queensland Health, regardless of whether a facility or ward is subject to existing nurse-to-patient ratios or minimum nurse and support worker legislation in public residential aged care facilities.
Under Review
Please note that this website is currently under review and will be updated in the future with a suite of measures that outline Queensland Health’s mental health, alcohol and other drug service activity, capability, performance and outcomes.
View HHS performance by area of care
To read more about the performance of this HHS, click the links below or scroll down to read reporting about the activity at this HHS.