An examination of the use of medications and services for mental health problems in Northern Ireland

Abstract

Northern Ireland has high rates of mental illness and suicide (Bunting, Murphy, O’Neill, & Ferry, 2012, 2013). The effects of these are now well known and are felt at the levels of both the individual and society. Given this, it is important that the provision of services and treatments for such disorders in the region are effectively in place and operating optimally.

There is a dearth of research examining the use of mental health services in Northern Ireland. The little research that has been conducted has highlighted several key concerns. For instance, it has been suggested that the region has an exceptionally high use of psychotropic medication, and also long help seeking and treatment delays for those with mental health problems (Bunting et al., 2012; McClure, 2014; National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol, 2012; Wemakor, Casson, & Dolk, 2014).

The thesis begins with a review of the current literature in the area of services in NI. Chapter 2 then details the main dataset used in the thesis, the first epidemiological study of mental health conducted in the region – the Northern Ireland Study of Health and Stress. The first empirical study, chapter 3, provides a foundation for the thesis by providing an up-to-date overview of the lifetime use of services and treatments by those with mental health problems in NI. Following the results from this chapter and the findings that primary care use and particularly psychotropic medication use were common, chapter 4 profiles the correlates of this medication use and why use in the region is so high. Chapter 5 further studies medication use in the region. Specifically, given the high rates of suicide in the country, the use of medication in those who had completed suicide is examined using the country’s first suicide database – the NI Coroner’s Suicide Database. The final empirical study, chapter 6, looks at attitudes towards treatment for mental health problems and the main issues relating to treatment in NI. A psychosocial approach is taken to understand attitudes that individuals hold towards treatment, and the reasons underlying why people fail to use services, delay treatment, or quit treatment despite needing it. The thesis ends with suggestions and recommendations to policymakers to improve the use of services by those suffering with mental health problems. A number of suggestions are also made regarding future research in this area.

Date of Award	Apr 2016
Original language	English
Sponsors	Department for Employment and Learning
Supervisor	Siobhan O'Neill (Supervisor), Sam Murphy (Supervisor), Brendan Bunting (Supervisor) & Finola Ferry (Supervisor)