SLAN 2007: Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition in Ireland Mental Health and Social Well-being Report

This report presents the main findings on the mental health and social well-being of Irish adults from the 2007 Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN 2007) in Ireland, commissioned by the Department of Health and Children. The report is part of a series based on the main 2007 survey (Morgan et al, 2008), which for the first time included questions on the mental health and social well-being status of the Irish adult population. Respondents were asked a series of questions on different aspects of mental health, including positive mental health and well-being, common mental health problems and clinical symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety disorder. A number of questions were also included on perceived stigma, quality of life, deliberate self-harm, loneliness, social support and social well-being. The SLÁN 2007 survey involved 10,364 respondents (62% response rate), aged 18 and over, with sub-studies on body size and a detailed physical examination. The sample is representative of the general population in Ireland when compared with Census 2006 figures and was further weighted to match the Census for analysis. SLÁN 2007 is, therefore, the largest national survey to date on the extent of both positive and negative mental health in the Irish adult population. This report presents the findings on mental health and social well-being and considers the influence of key socio-demographic variables, including age, gender, social class, education, income, residential location, employment status and marital status. The relationships between mental health, social well-being and self-rated health are also examined.