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The association between economic inactivity and mental health among young people: a longitudinal study of young adults who are not in employment, education or training

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2015

E. Power ,
M. Clarke ,
I. Kelleher ,
H. Coughlan Open the ORCID record for H. Coughlan [Opens in a new window] ,
F. Lynch ,
D. Connor ,
C. Fitzpatrick ,
M. Harley  and
M. Cannon
E. Power
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
M. Clarke
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland Department of Psychology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
I. Kelleher
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
H. Coughlan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
F. Lynch
Affiliation:
Lucena Clinic, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland
D. Connor
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland Department of Psychology, James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland
C. Fitzpatrick
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UCD School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
M. Harley
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
M. Cannon*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland Department of Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: Professor M. Cannon, Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Building, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland. (Email: marycannon@rcsi.ie)
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Abstract

Objectives

Increasing rates of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) are a cause of concern both in Ireland and internationally, but little longitudinal research has examined the link between psychiatric disorder in young people and NEET status.

Methods

The Challenging Times (CT) Study is a longitudinal, population-based study of psychopathology among 212 young Irish people. Clinical interviews were performed at two time points: 12–15 years and 19–24 years.

Results

NEET status in young adulthood was associated with a sevenfold increased risk of current suicidal ideation. This result was independent of prior adolescent mental disorder. NEET young people had a fourfold increased odds of being diagnosed with a mental disorder in childhood or early adolescence compared with their economically active peers. NEET young people were at an almost threefold increased risk of any mental health disorder a twofold increased risk of anxiety disorder and threefold increased odds of suicide attempts over their lifetime compared with economically active peers.

Conclusions

NEET young people are at increased risk for mental disorder and suicidal ideation. The association is bidirectional, as prior mental disorder in adolescence appeared to account for much of the association between NEET status and current mental health problems. However, economic inactivity conveys an increased risk for suicidal ideation over and above that due to prior disorder. Our findings provide a compelling economic and societal argument for early intervention and treatment of mental disorder and the importance of vocational interventions for reducing suicide risk in young adults.

Keywords

Cohort studiesearly interventionIrelandpsychopathologysuicideunemployment
Type
Original Research
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 1: Special Issue: Youth Mental Health , March 2015 , pp. 155 - 160
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2015 

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