Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Adolescent mental health literacy: young people's knowledge of depression and help seeking
- Authors:
- BURNS John R., RAPEE Ronald M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adolescence, 29(9), April 2006, pp.225-239.
- Publisher:
- Academic Press
This study examined the mental health literacy of a group of adolescents, with particular reference to their ability to recognize symptoms of depression in their peers. Respondents were 202 Australian adolescents (122 males, 80 females) aged 15–17 years. Their mental health literacy was examined through a questionnaire that presented them with five scenarios of young people. Respondents showed a mixed ability to correctly recognize and label depression, although they were able to differentiate depressed and non-depressed scenarios in terms of severity and expected recovery time. Results are discussed in light of findings from adult mental health literacy and clinical implications.
Transition of adolescents to adult mental health services
- Author:
- RYAN Mary
- Publisher:
- Research in Practice
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 6p.
- Place of publication:
- Dartington
The transition from adolescence to adulthood, difficult for all young people, is particularly problematic for young people with additional needs who have to move from services provided for children and young people to services provided for adults. Many young people between the ages of 16 and 25 fall through the net completely. Those who do receive services are often dissatisfied with the level and nature of the support offered by adult services in comparison to children’s services.
For youth by youth: innovative mental health promotion at Youth Net/Reseau Ado
- Authors:
- DAVIDSON Martin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 1(3), December 2006, pp.269-273.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Youth today are experiencing significant rates of mental illness and are generally reluctant or unable to seek out traditional mental health services. Youth Net/Reseau Ado (YN/RA) is a bilingual mental health promotion organization in Canada run by youth for youth that provides innovative, youth-friendly programming in an effort to address the distress experienced by youth. This article provides a description of the YN/RA organization which offers unique, community-based programming that includes mental health focus groups, youth initiatives (snowboarding, art and hiking programmes), and support groups for youth in need.
Challenging times: prevalence of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviours in Irish adolescents
- Authors:
- LYNCH Fionnuala, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adolescence, 29(4), August 2006, pp.555-573.
- Publisher:
- Academic Press
Against a background of a lack of systematic epidemiological research in Ireland in the area, this study set out to determine prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders, suicidal ideation and intent, and parasuicide in a population of Irish adolescents aged 12–15 years in a defined geographical area. All 12–15-year olds attending eight secondary schools were eligible for inclusion. A two-stage procedure was used involving a screening and an interview phase. Those scoring in the clinical range on the screening measures were interviewed, along with a comparison group matched for gender, school and school year. 19.4% of the 723 screened were identified as being ‘at risk’. This ‘at risk’ group was interviewed along with a comparison sample. 15.6% of the total study population met the criteria for a current psychiatric disorder, including 4.5% with an affective disorder, 3.7% with an anxiety disorder and 3.7% with ADHD. Significant past suicidal ideation was experienced by 1.9%, and 1.5% had a history of parasuicide. Binge drinking was associated with both affective and behaviour disorders. Rates of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviours are similar in young Irish adolescents to those in other Western cultures. Mental health promotion should be given priority in schools.
DSM psychiatric disorders in the context of pediatric HIV/AIDS
- Author:
- SCHARKO A. M.
- Journal article citation:
- AIDS Care, 18(5), July 2006, pp.441-445.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In HIV-infected adults, psychiatric disorders result in poor quality of life, HIV disease progression, poor compliance and increased mortality. The same may be true for children and adolescents challenged with HIV/AIDS. The literature regarding the prevalence of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM) psychiatric disorders in pediatric patients with HIV/AIDS was reviewed. Of over 500 papers reviewed only eight attempted to quantify prevalence in some way. Average prevalences of 28.6% for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 24.3% for anxiety disorders and 25% for depression were found with respective risk ratios of 6.0, 3.8 and 7.1. However, sample sizes were small and only two of the eight studies were controlled. Surprisingly little has been done to describe and quantify what mental-health problems these HIV-positive children and adolescents face.
A work in progress: the adolescent and young adult brain: a briefing paper
- Author:
- YOUNGMINDS
- Publisher:
- YoungMinds
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 8p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Until recently it was thought that the structure and make-up of the human brain was largely fixed from early childhood onwards. However, research on post-mortem human brains and the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning technology have demonstrated that the human brain does, in fact, undergo changes after this early sensitive period and develops throughout adolescence, young adulthood and even beyond. Since neuroscience is confirming what mental health professionals working with this age group have long observed – that adolescence and young adulthood is a time of great potential for change and development – then policymakers need increasingly to focus on the opportunities for helping and influencing young adults that this crucial stage presents. This paper summarises some recent findings from the field of neuroscience into adolescent and young adult brain development. It explores these findings, discusses the links between brain development and mental health, and concludes with some implications for mental health service policy for the 16-25 age group.
The effect of lifetime victimization on the mental health of children and adolescents
- Authors:
- TURNER Heather A., FINKELHOR David, ORMROD Richard
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 62(1), January 2006, pp.13-27.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This paper examines the cumulative prevalence of victimization and its impact on mental health in a nationally representative sample of 2030 children aged 2–17 in the USA. Telephone interviews conducted with both caregivers and youth revealed socio-demographic variations in lifetime exposure to most forms of victimization, with ethnic minorities, those lower in socio-economic status, and those living in single parent and stepfamilies experiencing greater victimization. Sexual assault, child maltreatment, witnessing family violence, and other major violence exposure each made independent contributions to levels of both depression and anger/aggression. Other non-victimization adversities also showed substantial independent effects, while in most cases, each victimization domain remained a significant predictor of mental health. Results suggest that cumulative exposure to multiple forms of victimization over a child's life-course represents a substantial source of mental health risk.
Assessment scales in child and adolescent psychiatry
- Authors:
- VERHULST Frank C., VAN DER ENDE Jan
- Publisher:
- Informa Healthcare
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 220p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Mental disorders such as Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression and autism have devastating consequences on the lives of children and adolescents. Early assessment of their mental health problems is essential for preventative measures and intervention. Assessment Scales in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is a unique compendium which summarizes over 100 scales across the field of mental disorders in children and adolescents. Every scale is accompanied by information on the completion of each instrument to allow the reader to see, at a glance, the scope of the scale and its application. This guide will be of interest to everyone involved in assessing the mental health problems of children and adolescents and the effect that these may have on their daily life.
Psychological distress among adolescents, and its relationship to individual, family and area characteristics in East London
- Authors:
- FAGG James, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 63(3), August 2006, pp.636-648.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This paper identifies factors associated with variation in psychosocial distress among adolescents in a relatively deprived and ethnically diverse inner city setting in London, UK. The research draws on literature which discusses whether neighbourhood socio-economic conditions are associated with mental health, as well as attributes of individual adolescents and their families. We report an analysis of data from the Research with East London Adolescents: Community Health Survey (RELACHS). The survey collected data on mental health measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and on various aspects of individual and family circumstances. These data were linked with information about social and economic conditions in ‘middle layer standard output areas’ (MSOA) used for the population Census 2001, having a mean total population of 6767 in the study area. Census statistics including the Indices of Deprivation for 2004 proposed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, were used to describe the socio-economic conditions within these areas. Although the socio-economic disparities among small areas were not typical of those across the whole of the country, there were differences in levels of deprivation and crime, social fragmentation, and ethnic composition. A Bayesian regression analysis using Gibbs sampling in the programme WinBugs investigated whether there was variability in SDQ at both individual and area (MSOA) level, and whether the predictor variables at both levels were significantly associated with SDQ. Individuals from Asian or Black ethnic groups, and those in families with harmonious relationships and no financial stress had significantly lower SDQ scores, i.e. better health. Those who had special educational needs or long standing illness, or were from reconstituted families had significantly worse SDQ scores. About 6% of the variation in SDQ was associated with area differences. However, this area variation was not related to differences in area indicators of socio-economic deprivation, crime or social fragmentation. There was a complex association between SDQ and ethnic composition of neighbourhoods.
Can humanistic and existential therapies help the problems of adolescents in the National Health Service
- Author:
- GUISHARD-PINE Jeune
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Critical Psychology Counselling and Psychotherapy, 6(1), Spring 2006, pp.48-55.
This article argues that existentialism has been neglected in therapies available to children and adolescents, to the advantage of biological interventionists, and the disadvantage of families. The article presents a background to the 'medical/biological model' and its relevance to work with children and families in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Secondly, it gives a brief description of childhood and adolescence and the mental and emotional health issues widely known to pervade this phase of the life cycle. Thirdly, the article looks at the development of the humanistic and existential ideas promoting the restoration of emotional and mental health in reference to childhood and adolescence.