Mental Health as a Risk Factor

Child and adolescent mental health problems are relatively common and may act as a risk factor for criminal behaviour. Up to 20% of children require help at some time and a recent survey of 5-15 year olds in Great Britain found that:

• 5% had significant conduct disorders (aggressive & anti-social behaviour)

• 4% had emotional disorders (anxiety or depression)

• 1% were hyperactive

• severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia were very rare, but their prevalence began to rise in adolescence.

(Mental Health of Children & Adolescents in Great Britain, Meltzer. H et al, Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Dept. of Health, the Scottish Health Executive and the National Assembly for Wales, March 2000 http://www.statistics.gov.uk/products/p3983.asp )

A recent report by the Office for National Statistics, Psychiatric Morbidity Among Young Offenders, found that 9 in 10 young offenders aged between 16-20 years old showed evidence of mental illness.

(Psychiatric Morbidity Among Young Offenders in England & Wales, Larder, D. et al Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Dept. of Health and the National Assembly for Wales, Oct.2000. ISBN 1857743946)

In order to both prevent and tackle persistent young offending, Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships will need to actively assist in the development of a programme to improve the provision of high quality care and treatment of young people by building up locally-based child and adolescent mental health services.