Decreasing Admissions but Increasing Readmissions for Mental Health in-Patient Treatment in Scotland, UK.

We have analysed mental health data for in-patient admissions from 1997 to 2021 in Scotland. The number of patient admissions for mental health patients is declining despite population numbers increasing. This is driven by the adult population; child and adolescent numbers are consistent. We find that mental health in-patients are more likely to be from deprived areas: 33 % of patients are from the most deprived areas, compared to only 11 % from the least deprived. The average length of stay for a mental health in-patient is decreasing, with a rise in stays lasting less than a day. The number of mental health patients who have been readmitted within a month fell from 1997 to 2011, then increased to 2021. Despite the average stay length decreasing, the number of overall readmissions is increasing, suggesting patients are having more, shorter stays.