BACKGROUND: Research has revealed high levels of mental health needs in young offenders but many studies have been small, focusing on specific populations. AIMS: To evaluate the mental health and psychosocial needs of a nationally representative sample of juvenile offenders in England and Wales, including female offenders and those from Black and minority ethnic groups. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of 301 young offenders, 151 in custody and 150 in the community, was conducted in six geographically representative areas across England and Wales. Each young person was interviewed to obtain demographic information, mental health and social needs, and psychometric data. RESULTS: Young offenders were found to have high levels of needs in a number of different areas including mental health (31%), education/work (36%) and social relationships (48%). Young offenders in the community had significantly more needs than those in secure care and needs were often unmet. One in five young offenders was also identified as having a learning disability (IQ<70). CONCLUSIONS: Needs for young offenders were high but often unmet. This emphasises the importance of structured needs assessment within custody and community settings in conjunction with a care programme approach that improves continuity of care.
BACKGROUND: Research has revealed high levels of mental health needs in young offenders but many studies have been small, focusing on specific populations. AIMS: To evaluate the mental health and psychosocial needs of a nationally representative sample of juvenile offenders in England and Wales, including female offenders and those from Black and minority ethnic groups. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of 301 young offenders, 151 in custody and 150 in the community, was conducted in six geographically representative areas across England and Wales. Each young person was interviewed to obtain demographic information, mental health and social needs, and psychometric data. RESULTS: Young offenders were found to have high levels of needs in a number of different areas including mental health (31%), education/work (36%) and social relationships (48%). Young offenders in the community had significantly more needs than those in secure care and needs were often unmet. One in five young offenders was also identified as having a learning disability (IQ<70). CONCLUSIONS: Needs for young offenders were high but often unmet. This emphasises the importance of structured needs assessment within custody and community settings in conjunction with a care programme approach that improves continuity of care.
Authors: Peter Fonagy; Stephen Butler; David Cottrell; Stephen Scott; Stephen Pilling; Ivan Eisler; Peter Fuggle; Abdullah Kraam; Sarah Byford; James Wason; Rachel Ellison; Elizabeth Simes; Poushali Ganguli; Elizabeth Allison; Ian M Goodyer Journal: Lancet Psychiatry Date: 2018-01-05 Impact factor: 27.083
Authors: Hanna Kovshoff; May Vrijens; Margaret Thompson; Lucy Yardley; Paul Hodgkins; Edmund J S Sonuga-Barke; Marina Danckaerts Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2013-03-02 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Daniel Rijo; Nélio Brazão; Ricardo Barroso; Diana Ribeiro da Silva; Paula Vagos; Ana Vieira; Ana Lavado; Ana Margarida Macedo Journal: Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health Date: 2016-11-01 Impact factor: 3.033
Authors: Stephane Shepherd; Benjamin Spivak; Rohan Borschmann; Stuart A Kinner; Henning Hachtel Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-02-15 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Peter Fonagy; Stephen Butler; Ian Goodyer; David Cottrell; Stephen Scott; Stephen Pilling; Ivan Eisler; Peter Fuggle; Abdullah Kraam; Sarah Byford; James Wason; Rachel Haley Journal: Trials Date: 2013-08-20 Impact factor: 2.279
Authors: M D Cohn; A Popma; W van den Brink; L E Pape; M Kindt; L van Domburgh; T A H Doreleijers; D J Veltman Journal: Transl Psychiatry Date: 2013-10-29 Impact factor: 6.222