Indicators of psychiatric institutionalization in Southeast Asia between 1990 and 2024

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Mental Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The Southeast Asia Region (SEAR) faces challenges in mental health institutionalization.
• Understanding trends in psychiatric bed availability and incarceration is vital for public health planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess psychiatric institutionalization indicators in SEAR member states.
• To analyze changes in these indicators between 1990 and 2024.
• To compare SEAR findings with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

Main Methods:

• Data collection on psychiatric beds, forensic beds, residential facility beds, and prison populations in 11 SEAR countries.
• Calculation of median rates per 100,000 population and percent changes.
• Comparative analysis with OECD country data.

Main Results:

• Median psychiatric bed prevalence increased by 94% (1.5 to 2.9 per 100,000).
• Median prison population rates doubled (+106%, 60 to 123 per 100,000).
• SEAR psychiatric bed prevalence is 5% of OECD levels, while incarceration rates are comparable.

Conclusions:

• Psychiatric bed provision in SEAR is critically low globally.
• Incarceration rates in SEAR are high, similar to high-income regions.
• Increased investment in mental health infrastructure is urgently needed in SEAR.