Mental health services among juvenile offenders require examination

A number of gaps and disparities exist in the treatment of mental illness among juvenile adolescents, new research suggests.

“Overall, juveniles who reported significant thought disturbances did not receive additional mental health services, compared to the overall sample,” Laura M. White, MS, of Indiana University, and colleague wrote. “Furthermore, Hispanic, male, and older youths were less likely to utilize services, minority youths were more likely to be arrested, and use of services did not reduce recidivism.”

The study included all detained youths, aged 12 to 18 years, in a large Midwestern detention center from 2006 to 2008. All participants completed the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-2 (MAYSI-2) to identify adolescents with mental health needs.

Researchers found among the 2,089 detained youth, 81.7% reported traumatic experiences, 26.9% took part in alcohol/drug use and 18.9% had thought disorders.
After detention, researchers found 16.1% utilized mental health care and 36.9% re-offended.

Other findings included: alcohol/drug use increased the use of services (OR=1.07; P=.025 within 3 months; OR=1.08, P=.011 within 6 months); Hispanic youths, males and older youths were less likely to use services (OR=0.37, P=0.15; OR=0.53, P<.001; OR=0.842, P<.001, respectively); traumatic experiences reduced likelihood of recidivism (OR=0.85, P<.001 within 3 months; OR=0.86, P<.001 within 6 months); alcohol/drug use increased recidivism (OR=1.10, P<.001 within 3 months; OR=1.12, P<.001 within 6 months); minorities were more likely to be re-arrested (OR=1.36, P<.008 within 3 months; OR=1.12, P<.009 within 6 months); and youths that utilized mental health services are not more or less likely to re-offend (OR=1.17, P=.26 within 3 months; OR=1.22, P=.116 within 6 months).

“Further research is needed to identify and address inadequate services, and develop ways to best utilize mental health screening results to ensure all juveniles have an equal opportunity to receive high-quality mental health care services,” researchers wrote.

For more information:

White LM. Abstract #23. Presented at: Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine 2013; March 13-16, 2013; Atlanta.

Disclosure: The study was supported by Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council, Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute and the National Depression Initiative.