NCJ Number
215484
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 555-573
Date Published
August 2006
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This epidemiological study investigated the rates of psychiatric disorders and suicidal tendencies in a school-based sample of urban, Irish adolescents.
Abstract
This study indicates that the population of Irish adolescents examined experience significant mental health difficulties. Approximately 16 percent of the adolescents had a current psychiatric disorder and almost 20 percent met the criteria for a past psychiatric disorder. Despite these rates, few had come to the attention of the appropriate child and adolescent psychiatric services. Overall results show the rates of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviors are similar in Irish adolescents to those in other Western cultures. Numerous prevalence studies examining rates of psychiatric disorder in young people have been conducted. However, this type of research has not been conducted in Ireland. This study of 723, 12 to 15 year olds attending 8 secondary schools reported on the prevalence estimates of psychiatric disorders in urban adolescents, the prevalence estimates of suicidal ideation and suicide behavior in this population, and the demographic information on the study population and those diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. Tables, figures, and references