Looked after or overlooked? An exploratory investigation of the mental health issues of adolescents living in state care in Northern Ireland

Abstract

There is consistent evidence that the rate of emotional, social and behavioural problems found in children and adolescents in out-of-home placements or state care is substantially higher than that of children and adolescents living with their families. However, with a few small-scale studies as exceptions, to date there has been little research carried out into the mental health needs of adolescents living in state care in Northern Ireland. This study aimed to examine the mental health needs of young people aged between 10 and 15 years living in state care in Northern Ireland. Data were collected on 165 adolescents via an analysis of case file data, questionnaires and interviews with social workers. It was found that the 70.3% of the young people scored within the abnormal and borderline ranges of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) total difficulties score indicating "high risk" for meeting the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. Over the course of 1 year living in state care, 10 of the 165 adolescents had attempted suicide and 14 had engaged in deliberate self-harm. Nevertheless, social workers still rated the vast majority (92%) of these young people's overall health as being "as good as", or "better than" other young people in their age. It is concluded that as this group of young people have significant contact with health and social services, potential opportunities exist to develop the therapeutic potential of the experience of being "looked after" in state care. They are a uniquely vulnerable group and their care and treatment may be considered as a minority rights issue which deserves a higher profile in the human rights agenda.

Differences in the factor structure of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in Northern Irish children.

“…We believe that this means the SDQ should be interpreted with caution when used in conflict-affected regions, and that existing studies using the SDQ in Northern Ireland and other conflicted-affected regions might benefit from being revisited (Cousins et al, 2010). It will be interesting to see whether a similar, altered factor structure is observed with samples from other conflict-affected regions.…”

“…We will argue that this means the SDQ should be interpreted with caution when used in conflict-affected regions, and that existing studies using the SDQ in Northern Ireland and other conflicted-affected regions might benefit from being revisited (Cousins, Taggart, & Milner, 2010).…”

Variables d'ajustament psicològic en una mostra d'adolescents amb mesures de protecció

“…Són menors que presenten una freqüència més baixa de relacions positives amb iguals i adults, amb més dificultats per a establir metes i objectius que els permetin donar sentit a la vida, que realitzen menys esforç personal a l'hora de desenvolupar les seves potencialitats i que mostren una major dependència. Presenten més problemes emocionals i de conducta, tal com suggereixen diferents treballs (Cousins et al 2010;Glaser, 2002;Repetti, Taylor i Seeman, 2002;Sabater et al 2012;Whyte i Campbell, 2008;Wigley et al 2012), mentre que, per a Fernández- Molina et al (2011), només un petit percentatge de menors en acolliment mostra problemes greus de conducta.…”

Utilising a computer game as a therapeutic intervention for youth in residential care: Some preliminary findings on use and acceptability

“…Unlike the rest of the UK, there has been no national survey of psychiatric morbidity among adolescents in care in Northern Ireland (Macdonald et al, 2011) and research has been confined to small-scale local studies in which similar rates of mental health disorder to those noted above have been reported (Teggart & Menary, 2005;Cousins et al, 2010). Although rates of mental health disorder among adolescents in care in Northern Ireland are thought to be similar to rates in Great Britain, higher levels of social deprivation, and the history of civil conflict in this jurisdiction, have been implicated as exacerbating factors (McAuley & Young 2006;Davren, 2007; Commission for Victims & Survivors;DHSSPS, 2011a).…”

“…These often include exposure to multiple traumatic events in childhood and possible negative experiences in the care system such as placement instability, bullying, and the absence of a consistent adult confidant or advocate (Milburn et al, 2008;Hannon et al, 2010;Uliando & Mellor, 2012). Such experiences can have a devastating impact on psychosocial development and long-term mental health outcomes, and research suggests that many adolescents in care have a high incidence of mental health disorders (Meltzer et al, 2003;Cousins et al, 2010;Heneghan et al, 2013). In a study undertaken by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 45% of those aged 5-17 in public care in England were found to have a mental health disorder (Meltzer et al, 2003).…”