BJPsych Open (Nov 2017)
Mental health difficulties and suicidal behaviours among young migrants: multicentre study of European adolescents
- Elaine M. McMahon,
- Paul Corcoran,
- Helen Keeley,
- Mary Cannon,
- Vladimir Carli,
- Camilla Wasserman,
- Marco Sarchiapone,
- Alan Apter,
- Judit Balazs,
- Raphaela Banzer,
- Julio Bobes,
- Romuald Brunner,
- Doina Cozman,
- Christian Haring,
- Michael Kaess,
- Jean-Pierre Kahn,
- Agnes Kereszteny,
- Ursa Mars Bitenc,
- Bogdan Nemes,
- Vita Poštuvan,
- Pilar A. Sáiz,
- Merike Sisask,
- Alexandra Tubiana,
- Peeter Värnik,
- Christina W. Hoven,
- Danuta Wasserman
Affiliations
- Elaine M. McMahon
- National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Paul Corcoran
- National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Helen Keeley
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Health Service Executive, Cork, Ireland
- Mary Cannon
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Vladimir Carli
- National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Camilla Wasserman
- 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, New York, USA
- Marco Sarchiapone
- Department of Medicine and Health Science, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy; National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty, Rome, Italy
- Alan Apter
- Schneider Children's Medical Centre of Israel, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Judit Balazs
- Vadaskert Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Hospital, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Raphaela Banzer
- Addiction Help Services B.I.N., Innsbruck, Austria
- Julio Bobes
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental – CIBERSAM, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Romuald Brunner
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Doina Cozman
- Clinical Psychology Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Christian Haring
- Department Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tirol Kliniken, Hospital Hall in Tyrol, Innsbruck, Austria
- Michael Kaess
- 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
- Jean-Pierre Kahn
- University of Lorraine, Nancy, France and Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Nancy, Nancy, France; Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy, Nancy, France
- Agnes Kereszteny
- Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Doctoral School of Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Ursa Mars Bitenc
- Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Andrej Marusic Institute, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia
- Bogdan Nemes
- Clinical Psychology Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Vita Poštuvan
- Slovene Centre for Suicide Research, Andrej Marusic Institute, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia
- Pilar A. Sáiz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental – CIBERSAM, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Merike Sisask
- Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute (ERSI), Tallinn, Estonia; School of Governance, Law and Society, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
- Alexandra Tubiana
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy, Nancy, France
- Peeter Värnik
- Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute (ERSI), Tallinn, Estonia
- Christina W. Hoven
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Danuta Wasserman
- National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1192/bjpo.bp.117.005322
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 3
pp. 291 – 299
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.
