Notable increase in number of children admitted to psychiatric hospitals

There were around 17,000 admissions to Irish psychiatric hospitals and units last year, and 408 of this group were children.

Of that number, 16 percent of children admitted were aged 14 or younger, according to the latest figures from the Health Research Board.

Despite the fact that in 2017 the figure of children stood at 441; overall there has been a rise in the number of kids admitted in the last decade.

Over three-quarters of children were admitted for the first time in 2018, and 84 of them were placed in adult units.

Depression was listed as the reason for one-third of admissions, with 63 percent of the children seeking psychiatric care being female.

The amount of involuntary admissions remained almost the same as 2017, standing at 13 percent. Schizophrenia, mania, neurosis and alcoholic disorders represented older age group's admissions.

CEO of the Health Research Board, Dr Darrin Morrissey, commented on the figures: “Behind these figures are real people who are experiencing serious mental ill health. This is useful to inform policy and plan services in line with people’s needs.” 

 Antoinette Daly, Research Officer at the Health Research Board, stressed that the number of children admitted to psychiatric hospitals has decreased since last year.

“More than three quarters of these young people were admitted for the first time in 2018, and 84 were admitted to adult units. Sixty-three per cent were female and depression accounted for almost one-in-three of admissions of those under 18 years.”

The average length of stay in psychiatric care for all those under the age of 18 in 2018 was 43 days.

The 20-24 year age group had the highest rate of all admissions, with the most common diagnoses being depressive disorders, accounting for 24 percent of all admissions.

Schizophrenia also accounted for 20 percent of total admissions.

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