BJPsych Open
Volume 3, Issue 6, 2017, Pages 291-299

Mental health difficulties and suicidal behaviours among young migrants: Multicentre study of European adolescents (Article) (Open Access)

McMahon E.M.* , Corcoran P. , Keeley H. , Cannon M. , Carli V. , Wasserman C. , Sarchiapone M. , Apter A. , Balazs J. , Banzer R. , Bobes J. , Brunner R. , Cozman D. , Haring C. , Kaess M. , Kahn J.-P. , Kereszteny A. , Bitenc U.M. , Poštuvan V. , Nemes B. , Sáiz P.A. , Sisask M. , Tubiana A. , Värnik P. , Hoven C.W. , Wasserman D.
  • a National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Western Gateway Building, Cork, Ireland
  • b National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Western Gateway Building, Cork, Ireland
  • c Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Health Service Executive, Cork, Ireland
  • d Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surg. in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
  • e National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  • f National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
  • g Department of Medicine and Health Science, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty, Rome, Italy
  • h Schneider Children's Medical Centre of Israel, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
  • i Vadaskert Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Hospital, Budapest, Hungary, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
  • j Addiction Help Services B.I.N., Innsbruck, Austria
  • k Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental - CIBERSAM, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
  • l Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
  • m Clinical Psychology Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • n Department Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tirol Kliniken, Hospital Hall in Tyrol, Innsbruck, Austria
  • o Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany, University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
  • p University of Lorraine, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Nancy, France, Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy, Nancy, France
  • q Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, Doctoral School of Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
  • r Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Andrej Marusic Institute, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia
  • s Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Andrej Marusic Institute, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia
  • t Clinical Psychology Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • u Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental - CIBERSAM, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
  • v Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute (ERSI), Tallinn, Estonia, School of Governance, Law and Society, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
  • w Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy, Nancy, France
  • x Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute (ERSI), Tallinn, Estonia
  • y Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
  • z National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract

Background: Migration has been reported to be associated with higher prevalence of mental disorders and suicidal behaviour. Aims: To examine the prevalence of emotional and behavioural difficulties, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among migrant adolescents and their non-migrant peers. Method: A school-based survey was completed by 11 057 European adolescents as part of the Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE) study. Results: A previous suicide attempt was reported by 386 (3.6%) adolescents. Compared with non-migrants, first-generation migrants had an elevated prevalence of suicide attempts (odds ratio (OR) 2.08; 95% CI 1.32-3.26; P=0.001 for European migrants and OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.06-3.27; P=0.031 for non-European migrants) and significantly higher levels of peer difficulties. Highest levels of conduct and hyperactivity problems were found among migrants of non-European origin. Conclusions: Appropriate mental health services and school-based supports are required to meet the complex needs of migrant adolescents. Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Romania Germany hyperactivity conduct disorder Slovenia multicenter study (topic) European France randomized controlled trial (topic) human suicide attempt priority journal comparative study Austria Estonia Hungary mental disease migrant Ireland mental patient Adolescent Spain school prevalence emotional disorder child psychiatry Article peer group behavior disorder suicidal behavior strengths and difficulties questionnaire major clinical study migration Italy suicidal ideation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85049826180&doi=10.1192%2fbjpo.bp.117.005322&partnerID=40&md5=f078c8fc3c60aea0128a52d3a9afa6b8
DOI: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.117.005322
ISSN: 20564724
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English