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23 APRIL 2009
NO 1427
Mental health
A number of factors have been suggested to explain the high levels of mental health difficulties evident among young people in care (for example, Richardson and Joughin, 2000; Richardson and Lelliot, 2003). Risk factors for developing a mental health difficulty during childhood have been understood as residing within the separate but interacting domains of the child, the family and the environment. Risks in each of these domains are elevated for children in care. They are likely to have entered care from homes that are conflictual, seriously neglectful or abusive. Attachment experiences with carers may have been disturbed and consequently the young person's self-esteem, interpersonal, emotional and intellectual skills may be inadequately developed. They may have difficulty making and sustaining friendships. They may be experiencing failure at school. Loss of significant relationships is almost always a significant issue and environmental contributors to emotional and psychological vulnerability-such as poverty, homelessness and discrimination-are often present.
Richardson and Lelliot (2003) describe how coming into care can bring protective factors into the lives of young people who need this type of support-physical safety, better living conditions, fair and consistent rules to live by, understanding and acceptance from attentive carers and residential workers-all of which can support positive emotional and psychological development. Despite the best of intentions, however, the care system cannot emulate the constancy of family life, and many young people in care have been so disturbed by their experiences that the activities and requirements of recovery are beyond their grasp.
The Northern Ireland context
The need for research to inform policy and practice has been highlighted
(for example, Koprowska and Stein, 2000). There is no published research
providing information about the mental health needs of children in care
in Northern Ireland. Health and Social Services are integrated in
Northern Ireland so the context in which care is provided is not
identical to that where research has been carried out in Britain.
Consequently there is a need to investigate mental health need within
our local population of children in substitute care.
TOM TEGGART AND JOANNE
MENARY
Teggart, T. and Menary, J. (2005). An investigation of the mental health needs of children looked after by Craigavon and Banbridge Health and Social Services Trust. Child Care in Practice, 11, 1. pp. 39-49
REFERENCES
Koprowska, J. and Stein, M. (2000). The menatl health of 'looked after' young people. In Aggleton, P.; Hurry, J. and Warwick, I. (Eds.). Young People and Mental Health. London. Wiley and Sons.
Richardson, J. and Lelliot, P. (2003). Mental health of looked after children. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 9. pp. 249-251.
