RCSI: According to research, over half of young Irish people will meet the
criteria for a mental health disorder at some point before 25 years of
age.
This is according to an Irish study, known as The Challenging Times, the
findings from which are featured in the recent Special Youth themed
Edition of the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. The papers
published from this study reveal, not only high rates of mental
ill-health during adolescence and into young adulthood, but also the
serious risks for young people who experience mental health difficulties
during adolescence, including higher rates of unemployment during their
young adult years. The study involved detailed clinical interviews with
young Irish people from a representative sample of schools in North
Dublin, first at age 12-15 years and later when they were aged 19-24
years.
The findings reinforce the importance of early intervention in order to
maximise the functional outcomes for adolescents with mental disorders
to give young people the best chance to get well and get on with having
full, productive and normal lives. A case made by leading advocates in
the youth mental health movement in a number of editorials in the
special edition of the journal.
This special edition focuses on the importance of research in
identifying the needs and vulnerabilities of young people and was
inspired following the adoption of Youth Mental Health as the official
annual theme by the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, in 2013. The
College released a submission paper at this time stating that despite
the perception that “the health and wellbeing of young people has never
been better’ in fact the ‘evidence points to high rates... of
psychological distress and mental disorder among young people’. Much of
the work in this Special Issue was funded by the Health Research Board
(Ireland).
Associate Editors, Professor Mary Cannon and Dr. John Paul Lyne began
this timely endeavour to capture the excellent work which many high
profile Youth Mental Health researchers are conducting both in Ireland
and abroad, and harness ongoing momentum in this important area.
Professor Mary Cannon, (RCSI & Beaumont Hospital), says ‘It is time
to start focussing on providing specialised services catering for the
need of young people particularly during the transition from adolescence
into young adulthood. This can be a difficult time with many challenges
for vulnerable youth. The reality is that our existing services simply
cannot respond to the level of need among Irish youth. New models of
service are required.’
Dr. John Lyne (North Dublin Mental Health service) says ‘This
comprehensive edition provides a clear focus on young people’s mental
health today. The quality contributions from both Ireland and
internationally highlight the desire for reform in this area, which
would be a positive investment for the future.’
The research in this Special Issue highlights the problems that still
exist and the gaps in services for young people. It encompasses work on
prevalence rates and risk factors for mental ill – health among Irish
young people and also papers describing innovative youth mental health
developments in UK, Canada and Australia. The Special Issue also
includes a powerful first person account from a young person, Lisa
Butterly, who has experience in transitioning from child to adult mental
health services in Ireland.
The special edition of the journal is available from http://www.ijpm.ie/