Assessment of the mental health of Irish Adolescents in the community
Aim: This study aims to assess a community of Irish adolescents using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for behavioural difficulties and mental health disorders.
Method: All fifth and sixth class pupils attending eight primary schools were eligible to participate. The self-report version of the SDQ was administered to the pupils in the classroom.
Results: Thirty participants (8.7%) had an abnormal SDQ score and 53 (15.3%) had a borderline abnormal SDQ score. Abnormal SDQ scores were more common among females (9.7%; mean score = 11.86; sd = 5.4) than among males (7.6%; mean score = 10.96; sd = 5.26). The difference was most pronounced on the emotional symptoms subscale (females received a mean score of 4.03 [sd = 2.1] compared to a mean male score of 2.90 [sd = 2.1]).
Conclusions: Mental health problems are widespread among Irish adolescents. The SDQ is a useful preliminary assessment tool of the mental health profile of Irish adolescents and highlights the need for childhood mental health promotion in schools. The SDQ could also be used in a primary care setting to screen adolescents for mental disorders
Funding
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland 2009 Alumni Student Research Fund in General Practice.
History
Comments
This article is also available at http://www.rcsismj.com/wp-content/uploads/RCSIsmj-Vol3-Mental-Health-of-Irish-Adolescents.pdfPublished Citation
Greally P, Kelleher I, Murphy J, Cannon M. Assessment of the mental health of Irish Adolescents in the community. RCSI Student Medical Journal. 2009;3(1):33-35.Publication Date
2009-01-01Department/Unit
- Beaumont Hospital
- Psychiatry
- Undergraduate Research