Intervention in the mental health of young offenders in portuguese juvenile detention facilities - a preliminary study

Abstract

Worldwide, the number of youngsters diagnosed with a mental disorder has increased substantially. However, teenagers involved in acts considered delinquent, particularly those who are at juvenile detention facilities, seem to be especially vulnerable to the development of psychopathologies. In Portugal, there are few studies regarding the mental health problems of these young people and the interventional responses they have been receiving in these institutions. However, there is some evidence of a sharp increase in the use of psychoactive drugs. This becomes worrying when considering the short-term side effects of psychopharmaceuticals and the lack of knowledge about their medium and long-term effects. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the mental health problems and subsequent interventional responses among adolescents in juvenile Portuguese detention facilities.  To this end, ten psychologists working in these six institutions and twelve specialists in the field were interviewed.  In addition, a questionnaire was applied to the directors of five of these organizations, through which data on 95 youths were accessed. The data point to a high rate of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive problems in these young people. However, the mental health evaluation procedures are insufficient, as well as the respective psychological intervention. Nevertheless, 54% of the youngsters were taking psychopharmaceuticals. The results raise concerns regarding the possibility of psychopharmaceuticals being used, in some cases, as a way to overcome the limitations of psychological intervention in the mental health problems of these adolescents.