More than a quarter of children aged between 12 and 18 years in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, have significant mental health problems, according to the preliminary findings of a new study.
This level of mental health problems among youngsters in Clonmel, where some 17 per cent of children aged under five were also adjudged to have significant mental health problems, is considered high by international standards. Significant mental health problems range from attention disorders to depression.
Maeve Martin was one of those behind the study, which was carried out by the Health Service Executive South Eastern Area in conjunction with University College Dublin. She said Clonmel was a typical rural community so it was "probable" that the prevalence of mental health problems among under-18s in rural areas was similar at a national level.
Ms Martin, principal psychologist for South Tipperary Community Services, said the study was the first of its kind in Ireland and involved more than 4,500 children in the 1½ to 18 years age group. The survey was carried out on the basis of parents filling out checklists for all children, plus children aged 11 to 18 years completing a youth self report form.
Overall the study found that almost one fifth of under 18s (some 17.5 per cent) in Clonmel suffer mental health problems. These include 17 per cent of children in the under-five age group, some 10 per cent of 6- to 11-year-olds and 26 per cent of 12- to 18-year-olds. Attention and conduct problems were more prevalent than emotional problems.
Ms Martin said the findings for those aged under five and those in the 12 to 18 year age group were high by international standards. Further research is now being undertaken through in-depth interviews to determine why this is the case. Ms Martin said it was already obvious that mental health problems were higher among children from lower socio-economic groups. In one second-level school attended by poorer children, the rate of significant mental health problems among 12- to 18-year-old students was as high as 36 per cent.
International research indicates that about 10 to 15 per cent of a given population would be expected to have significant mental health problems. Other findings were that 10 per cent of 12- to 18-year-olds surveyed said they had had suicidal thoughts during the previous six months and 7 per cent had deliberately harmed themselves. Nine per cent had used illegal drugs.
Asked to comment on the fact that 17 per cent of under fives could have mental health problems, Ms Martin said they were judged to have significant emotional and behavioural problems by parents. Since the data was gathered, information and training sessions had been run for parents and some said that in hindsight their child may not have had a problem but that they themselves may have had difficulty being firm with their child.