Prevalence of childhood disorder, perceived need for help, family dysfunction and resource allocation for child welfare and children's mental health services in Ontario.

Abstract

This report compares the distribution of mental health morbidity assessed during a cross-sectional survey of Ontario children aged 4 to 16 done in 1983, with information in government documents on patterns of utilization and expenditure on child welfare and children''s mental health services in Ontario during the same time period. Survey measures of mental health morbidity included prevalence of psychiatric disorder determined by self-report checklists and perception of child need of professional help for emotional and behavioural problems. A measure of family dysfunction was included to broaden the assessment of morbidity. The areas studied were the four administrative regions of the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS), two metropolitan areas, and the three area offices of MCSS located in the north region. The results indicate that large geographic variations in both expenditures per capita and the utilization of services per 1,000 cannot be justified on the basis of independently assessed child mental health. The findings are discussed in regard to the problems involved in setting priorities for resource allocation.