PART 4: FORMAL AND INFORMAL SUPPORTS

Mental Health Referrals

Good mental health enables people to lead a fulfilled life and to relate satisfactorily to those around them. The consequences of mental health problems for an individual or family can be considerable and wide-ranging. 72

Measure

The number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals among children.

Key findings

  • In 2006, there were 398 admissions to psychiatric hospitals among children (see Figure 48). This represents an increase of 65 admissions compared to 2005.

Figure 48: Number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals among children (2002-2006)

fig45

Source: National Psychiatric In-Patient Reporting System, Health Research Board

Differences by gender and age

  • In 2006, children aged 15-17 accounted for 83.7% (333) of admissions to psychiatric hospitals (see Table 111).

Table 111: Number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals among children, by age (2002-2006)

Age 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
  No. No. No. No. No. %
0-4 years 0 0 0 0 0 0
5-9 years 3 4 5 1 4 1.0
10-14 years 47 43 38 46 61 15.3
15-17 years 402 346 309 286 333 83.7
Total 452 393 352 333 398 100.0

Source: National Psychiatric In-Patient Reporting System, Health Research Board

 

  • In 2006, the number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals was higher for boys than for girls (see Table 112), with boys accounting for 54.8% (218) of admissions and girls for 45.2% (180).

Table 112: Number of admissions aged under 18 to psychiatric hospitals, by gender (2002-2006)

  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
  No. No. No. No. No.

%
Boys 208 163 185 181 218 54.8
Girls 244 230 167 152 180 45.2
Total 452 393 352 333 398 100

Source: National Psychiatric In-Patient Reporting System, Health Research Board

 

Differences by conditions

  • In 2006, the most common reason for children being admitted to psychiatric hospitals was for depressive disorders (29.6%) (see Table 113). Other common reasons included neuroses (14.1%) and schizophrenia (8.0%). Alcoholic disorders accounted for 4.3% of admissions and drug dependence for 5.8% of admissions.

Table 113: Number of admissions aged under 18 to psychiatric hospitals, by cause (2002-2006)

Diagnosis 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
  No. No. No. No. No. %
Depressive disorders 120 111 79 88 118 29.6
Neuroses 74 71 75 63 56 14.1
Personality disorders 81 44 40 36 29 7.3
Drug dependence 29 31 32 33 23 5.8
Schizophrenia 48 32 27 30 32 8.0
Other psychoses 13 20 13 14 19 4.8
Alcoholic disorders 9 24 17 13 17 4.3
Mania 33 13 22 11 23 5.8
Mental handicap 5 <5 5 6 1 0.3
Organic psychoses 14 <5 7 <5 15 3.8
Unspecified 26 40 35 34 65 16.3
Total 452 393 352 333 398 100

Source: National Psychiatric In-Patient Reporting System, Health Research Board

 

Differences by geographical area

  • In 2006, 24.9% of children admitted to psychiatric hospitals were from Dublin and 10.1% from Cork City and County (see Table 114).

Table 114: Number of admissions aged under 18 to psychiatric hospitals, by county (2002-2006)

County 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Carlow 7 <5 <5 <5 5 1.3
Cavan <5 <5 <5 <5 <5  
Clare 14 15 5 <5 5 1.3
Cork city and county 32 31 34 34 40 10.1
Donegal 12 <5 9 <5 <5  
Dublin 119 84 99 90 99 24.9
England and NI <5 <5 <5 <5 <5  
Galway city and county 37 44 44 33 36 9
Kerry 25 13 13 13 8 2
Kildare 38 18 19 21 23 5.8
Kilkenny <5 7 <5 <5 <5  
Laois 5 8 9 <5 5 1.3
Leitrim <5 <5 <5 <5 <5  
Limerick city and county 22 25 12 8 20 5
Longford 18 8 <5 6 <5  
Louth 16 16 <5 <5 9 2.3
Mayo 15 10 5 <5 10 2.5
Meath 6 8 12 16 13 3.3
Monaghan <5 <5 <5 <5 5 1.3
Offaly 7 <5 16 5 7 1.8
Roscommon <5 7 6 6 7 1.8
Sligo <5 7 <5 <5 <5  
Tipperary 36 26 16 <5 30 7.5
Unspecified <5 6 <5 36 <5  
Waterford city and county 8 15 9 9 10 2.5
Westmeath 6 9 6 8 14 3.5
Wexford 8 16 7 16 17 4.3
Wicklow 6 7 10 10 15 3.8
Total 452 393 352 333 398 100

Source: National Psychiatric In-Patient Reporting System, Health Research Board

 

Technical notes
The National Psychiatric In-Patient Reporting System (NPIRS) database is the only national psychiatric in-patient database in Ireland. The data collected for the NPIRS include demographic data relating to each patient (such as gender, date of birth, marital status, address from which admitted and socio-economic group), together with clinical and diagnostic information (such as date of admission/discharge, legal category, order of admission, diagnosis on admission and discharge in accordance with the WHO International Classification of Diseases categories (ICD 10) and reason for discharge).

In response to changing patterns of patient care, the Health Research Board (HRB) is developing a web-based database, called WISDOM, in collaboration with the HSE and other stakeholders. It is designed to record activity at community care level, including out-patient clinics, day centres, day hospitals, community residences and liaison psychiatry.

Next

72 Department of Health and Children (2006) A Vision for Change: Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy. Dublin: The Stationery Office.