Website of the Department of Health

The mental health of young people looked after by local authorities in England

A survey carried out in 2002 by the Social Survey Division of ONS on behalf of the Department of Health

This report presents data from the first national survey of the mental health of young people looked after by local authorities in England. The primary purpose of the survey was to produce prevalence rates of three main categories of mental disorder: conduct disorder, hyperactivity and emotional disorders by child and placement characteristics. The second aim of the survey was to determine the impact and burden of children's mental health problems in terms of social impairment and adverse consequences for others. The third main purpose of the survey was to examine service utilisation. The examination of service use requires the measurement of contextual factors (lifestyle behaviours and risk factors). Fieldwork for the survey took place between October 2001 and June 2002.