In 2007-2008, there were more than 52,000 admissions to mental health beds in Ontario, and new data show that the vast majority of these showed improvements during their hospital stay. For example, the analysis found that 83% of people hospitalized for mental illness were showing signs of depression at the time of their admission. Of those, 75% showed a decrease in signs of depression by the time they were discharged. Likewise, the majority of patients who showed signs of aggression at the time of admission for a mental illness (representing 29% of mental health hospitalizations) saw a decrease in aggressive behaviour at the time of discharge.

The analysis released on March 31st by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) presents new information relating to the characteristics and care needs of people 15 years of age and older admitted to a mental health bed in Ontario…