School of Nursing, Institute of Nursing Research, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland.
Psychol Health Med. 2010 Oct;15(5):497-506. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2010.487110.
There is consistent evidence that the rate of emotional, social and behavioural problems found in children and adolescents in out-of-home placements or state care is substantially higher than that of children and adolescents living with their families. However, with a few small-scale studies as exceptions, to date there has been little research carried out into the mental health needs of adolescents living in state care in Northern Ireland. This study aimed to examine the mental health needs of young people aged between 10 and 15 years living in state care in Northern Ireland. Data were collected on 165 adolescents via an analysis of case file data, questionnaires and interviews with social workers. It was found that the 70.3% of the young people scored within the abnormal and borderline ranges of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) total difficulties score indicating "high risk" for meeting the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. Over the course of 1 year living in state care, 10 of the 165 adolescents had attempted suicide and 14 had engaged in deliberate self-harm. Nevertheless, social workers still rated the vast majority (92%) of these young people's overall health as being "as good as", or "better than" other young people in their age. It is concluded that as this group of young people have significant contact with health and social services, potential opportunities exist to develop the therapeutic potential of the experience of being "looked after" in state care. They are a uniquely vulnerable group and their care and treatment may be considered as a minority rights issue which deserves a higher profile in the human rights agenda.
有确凿的证据表明，在离家或被国家照顾的儿童和青少年中，情绪、社交和行为问题的发生率远远高于与家人一起生活的儿童和青少年。然而，除了少数小规模研究外，迄今为止，针对生活在北爱尔兰国家照顾中的青少年的心理健康需求的研究很少。本研究旨在检查生活在北爱尔兰国家照顾中的 10 至 15 岁年轻人的心理健康需求。通过对 165 名青少年的案例档案数据、问卷和社会工作者访谈进行分析，收集了数据。结果发现，70.3%的年轻人在 Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) 总困难评分中处于异常和边缘范围，表明“高风险”符合精神病诊断标准。在国家照顾中生活的 1 年期间，165 名青少年中有 10 人试图自杀，14 人故意自残。尽管如此，社会工作者仍然将绝大多数（92%）这些年轻人的整体健康状况评为“与同龄人一样好”或“更好”。结论是，由于这群年轻人与卫生和社会服务有很大的接触，因此存在着开发在国家照顾中“被照顾”经历的治疗潜力的潜在机会。他们是一个非常脆弱的群体，他们的护理和治疗可能被视为少数群体权利问题，值得在人权议程中得到更高的重视。
