Most young offenders suffer psychiatric problems, says study

Eight out of 10 young people in detention centres suffer with psychiatric problems, a new report revealed today.

One fifth of boys who offend have also had suicidal thoughts and attempted to take their lives, while more than half were abusing drink and drugs.

The study found teenagers being detained experience very high rates of psychiatric disorders, engage in serious criminality, and have significant deficits in emotional intelligence and in cognitive ability.

'Emotional Intelligence, Mental Health and Juvenile Delinquency' was carried out by two academics from University College Dublin and is the first research of its kind in the world.

A total of 37% of those quizzed experienced internal psychiatric problems, such as anxiety disorders and depression, while 68% met diagnostic criteria for external disruptive and conduct disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

Dr Jennifer Margaret Hayes and Dr Gary O' Reilly compared young people in detention schools to those referred to a community psychiatry service and others who did not have offending or mental health problems.

Dr Hayes said that staff working in detention schools for young boys under 16 years can expect that approximately eight out of every 10 boys in their care will meet diagnostic criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder.

Multiple psychiatric problems were identified in detainees, with them experiencing almost three times as many psychiatric problems as boys who have been referred to a psychiatry service because their difficulties are considered so serious.

"Given the high rates of psychiatric difficulties it was not surprising that about one fifth of boys in the offender group were experiencing thoughts of suicide at the time of data collection, and that a similar number reported that they had attempted to take their lives on at least one occasion in the past," said Dr Hayes.

Substance use and dependency among young detainees raised concerns for the researchers.

They found 56% had at least one substance dependency disorder, with around the same number with addictions using cocaine, alcohol and cannabis.

"Results also suggest that drug use begins in early childhood," said Dr Hayes.

"Such young people with substance dependency disorders reported that they first began to use alcohol and cannabis at an average age of just nine years, and cocaine use at 13 years of age on average."

A total of 77% of the young people interviewed were detained in a different detention school on at least one other point in time, pointing to high rates of re-offending.

Approximately one in three boys were serving time on foot of at least one interpersonally violent crime, with a child having on average 11 charges made against them.

Dr Hayes said that the difficulties highlighted in the report are not addressed through current service provision for these young people.

"The vast majority fail to receive any treatment for psychiatric problems whatsoever," she added.

"The report highlights the importance of addressing these difficulties.

"In addition to reducing the debilitating effects that mental health problems have on a child's functioning and development, treatment will lead to a significant reduction in offending behaviour and criminality and therefore, has significant cost benefits for society, the legal system and the Irish State".

The report was launched at an international conference at the university attended by professionals from across Ireland, the UK and USA.

The report was welcomed by Youth Work Ireland, which claims it illustrates the shortcomings of a strategy based solely on law and order.

"This report shows what we have long suspected that many young people who get into trouble have serious psychological needs that are not being met by any of the service providers," said Michael McLoughlin of Youth Work Ireland.

"There is a need for a much more comprehensive system of psychological support for children and young people from a very young age. The prevalence of alcohol and drugs with these young people has also been commented on before yet strategies to address these problems have been seriously neglected by Government."

The group, which supports the running of nearly 30 Garda diversion projects around the country, called for proper investment in psychological services for young people.

Mr McLoughlin said mental health spending overall has not kept up with economic growth, with a serious gap in the system when it comes to young people.

"Clearly these young people are ending up in detention centres and in the criminal justice system rather than receiving support from the HSE which is where they could be properly addressed," he added.

"There is still little primary or preventative care through schools in this country which could have identified these young people earlier and that is a real scandal. These young people have rights and to end up in detention due to their ill health is disgraceful."