Mental Health Services for Violent Young Offenders
Author Information
Author(s): Eeva Huikko, Päivi Santalahti, Aulikki Ahlgrén-Rimpiläinen, Riikka Lämsä
Primary Institution: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Hypothesis
What are the discontinuities in mental health service use among violent young offenders and how do they perceive these services?
Conclusion
Most violent young offenders perceive mental health services as not beneficial, with many experiencing discontinuities in their treatment paths.
Supporting Evidence
- Most discontinuities in service use were initiated by the youth themselves.
- Parents and the service system also contributed to treatment discontinuities.
- Many subjects reported mental health services as unhelpful or confusing.
- Some subjects experienced benefits from medication, but overall perceptions were negative.
- Disengagement from treatment often began with negative emotions about the services.
Takeaway
Young people who commit violent acts often stop using mental health services because they don't find them helpful, and this can happen for many reasons.
Methodology
Qualitative content analysis of forensic psychiatric examination statements.
Potential Biases
The data was coded by only one researcher, which may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study has a small sample size and relies on retrospective data, which may vary in reliability.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 15-22, predominantly male, with various psychiatric diagnoses including personality and substance use disorders.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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