Mental health needs of justice-involved young people in Australia

The Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales has published a research report titled “Changing direction: Mental Health needs of justice involved young people in Australia.”  The report provides the results from a study of 465 justice-involved young people aged 14 - 17 from Western Australia and Queensland. Three quarters of the sample reported that they had experienced some form of non-sexual abuse (for example physical, verbal, emotional or neglect).  Almost half (44%) had experienced at least one head injury that involve a loss of consciousness in their lifetime, 23% reported having ever attempted suicide, while less than 30% of the young people reported that they had used a health service for emotional or behavioural problems in the previosu twelve months.

Go to “Changing direction: Mental Health needs of justice involved young people in Australia.”