An investigation of the mental health needs of children looked after by craigavon and banbridge health and social services trust

Abstract

Rates of mental health difficulties were investigated among children in substitute care across five childcare teams in Craigavon and Banbridge H'/SS Trust. A total of 64 children were assessed using a behavioural screening instrument. Results indicate that more than 60% of 4Á/10 year olds assessed may have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. The presence of such a disorder is probable in almost 50%. Among the 11Á/16 year olds assessed, the proportion likely to have a diagnosable disorder is slightly higher at almost two-thirds of the sample group. A significant number of children appeared in more than one diagnostic category, indicating the complexity of their presentation and probable co-morbid diagnoses. The implications of these results for further research and for the provision of mental health services to young people in substitute care are discussed.

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: A Useful Screening Tool to Identify Mental Health Strengths and Needs in Looked After Children and Inform Care Plans at Looked After Children Reviews?

“…McMaster's (2004) assessment of the needs of 52 LAC aged 12Á18 accommodated in regional care centres on a particular day found that just over 90% experienced some level of anxiety, 80% had some level of difficulty coping with life situations and 71% had a sense of hopelessness. Teggart and Menary (2005), using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (Goodman, 1997), had results consistent with the study by Meltzer et al (2003).…”

“…The application of the Achenbach Child Behaviour Checklist, however, requires specialist training usually not available to social work practitioners at Tiers 1 or 2. The SDQ (Goodman, 1997), on the other hand, can be used in everyday practice by social workers and has been utilised in a small-scale study of mental health need with LAC in another Trust in Northern Ireland (Teggart & Menary, 2005).…”

The SDQ as a mental health measurement tool in a Canadian sample of looked-after young people†

“…For example, Stein, Evans, Mazumdar, and Rae-Grant (1996) reported that, in Canada, the percentage of foster children with complex needs had increased from the 30-40% range in the 1970s and 1980s to 80% in the 1990s. These mental health difficulties are compounded by a greater likelihood of low academic achievement, school suspensions or dropout, problems with the law and low socioeconomic status in adulthood (Kufeldt et al, 2000;Minnis, Everett, Pelosi, Dunn, & Knapp, 2006;Richardson & Lelliott, 2003;Teggart & Menary, 2005). Inadequacies in mental health services for foster children have been documented since the early 1980s (e.g.…”

“Care Just Changes Your Life”: Factors Impacting upon the Mental Health of Children and Young People with Experiences of Care in Northern Ireland

“…The figures for Scotland and Wales, although differing slightly, show similar patterns/ discrepancies (Meltzer, Corbin, Gatward, Goodman, & Ford, 2003;Meltzer, Gatwood, Goodman, & Ford, 2000;Meltzer, Lader, Corbin, Goodman, & Ford, 2004a, 2004b. Unlike the rest of the United Kingdom, however, Northern Ireland has not benefited from similar prevalence studies and, despite the value of some smaller-scale research (for example, McAuley, 2006;McMaster, 2004;Teggart & Menary, 2005), there remain many gaps in knowledge when it comes to our understanding of the mental health needs of these children and young people.…”