Mental Health Service Use Among 18-Year-Old Adolescent Boys: A Prospective 10-Year Follow-Up Study

• NCJ Number: 207321
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 43 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 1250-1258
• Author(s): Andre Sourander M.D.; Petteri Multimaki M.D.; Paivi Santalahti M.D.; Kai Parkkola M.D.; Antti Haavisto M.D.; Hans Helenius M.Sc.; Georgios Nikolakaros M.D.; Jorma Piha M.D.; Tuula Tamminen M.D.; Irma Moilanen M.D.; Kirsti Kumpulainen M.D.; Eeva T. Aronen M.D.; Sirkka-Liisa Linna M.D.; Kaija Puura M.D.; Fredrik Almqvist M.D.
• Date Published: October 2004
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with mental health service use among 18-year-old boys in Finland.

Abstract

Although the rate of psychiatric disorders among adolescence is high, studies from Western countries have indicated that the use of mental health services is low among this population. The current study utilized a longitudinal cohort study to assess the use of mental health services among a birth cohort of 2,316 Finnish boys who were first assessed at age 8 in 1989. Follow-up was completed in 1999, when the boys were called to military service. Parents and teachers were asked to completed psychological functioning questionnaires regarding the boys during 1989 and, at the 1999 follow-up, the sample was assessed using various measures including the Young Adult Self-Report questionnaire. Results of statistical analyses indicated that 2.1 percent of the boys had used mental health services during the preceding 12 months. The factors found to be independently associated with use of mental health services in the past year at age 18 included internalizing, anxious-depressive, and withdrawal symptoms; health problems; not living with parents; use of illicit drugs; excessive alcohol use; and regular smoking. A number of factors at age 8 also predicted mental health service use 10 years later, including emotional and behavioral symptoms, need for referral, and low school performance as reported by teacher evaluations. Thus, the findings revealed that only a minority of severely troubled youths in Finland had sought mental health services. Early detection of mental health symptoms in school settings should be focused upon and future research should determine how adolescents' view and experience mental health services. Tables, references