Aggression and deliquency in youth linked to mental health

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Aggression and deliquency in youth linked to mental health

Leader-Post

REGINA - Hyperactivity, depression, and harsh parenting are linked to

aggression and delinquency involving property offences among youth, a

new report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)

says.

According to the CIHI study, mental health factors, such as self-

esteem and the ability to handle stress, are linked to whether a 12-

or 13-year-old will display delinquent behaviour or become involved

in criminal activity.

" Understanding the links between mental health, mental illness,

delinquency and criminal activity requires consideration of both risk

and protective factors,'' said Harvey, director of the Canadian

Population Health Initiative, a CIHI program in a prepared statement.

" With this understanding, there is greater opportunity for

interventions and policies that may be effective at promoting mental

health, preventing crime and reducing the risk of repeat offending

among those with a mental illness.''

The study, Improving the Health of Canadians: Mental Health,

Delinquency and Criminal Activity, presents new analyses of the

latest research, surveys and policy initiatives across Canada related

to mental health and criminal behaviour among youth and adults.

The report shows that youth aged 13 to 15 with high levels of self-

esteem, good stress management and self-motivation are more likely to

report never engaging in aggressive behaviour.

At the school and community levels, feeling connected to one's school

and feeling a positive bond with society are linked to reduced

delinquency. In contrast, the report said, feeling excluded and

isolated can lead to involvement in criminal or delinquent behaviour.

The report noted that the numbers of youth and adults with diagnosed

mental illnesses are over-represented in Canada's correctional

facilities.

The report concludes that there is a role for everyone, across all

levels of government and sectors within and outside of health, to

play in understanding and addressing the link between mental health,

mental illness, delinquency and criminal activity.

There is value in providing appropriate services and programs in

order to prevent criminal activity and in providing offenders with a

mental illness with appropriate services an programs within

correctional facilities and in the community, the report concludes.

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