This paper describes the use of mental health data from a centralized regional intake and access tracking system for regional mental health and psychiatry services and provincial data to describe mental disorder as a function of regional population density. Population-based utilization results are compared to available epidemiological data. Implications for existing and future service models are examined.

Diagnoses from annual data collected in the regional CAMHP information system from 2002-2007 (n = 25,000 registrants) was used. Estimates of population calculated from the regional census were used to denominate the utilization diagnostic data. Cumulative and annual density results were represented graphically and using GIS mapping techniques.

The rate of publicly funded service provision to unique individuals in the catchment area (9/1000) is much lower than the expected rates of debilitating mental disorder in the base population (30/1000). Modeling the costs of service provision shows that two evidence-based forms of service delivery could dramatically improve access and capacity of mental health services within the catchment.

The results point to the need to develop novel evidence-based service delivery models so that the basic mental health needs of the population are met. Two such models are discussed.