4858 Mental Health Report - National University of Ireland, Galway

Methodology
Analysis of Data
The interview transcripts, along with any other project documentation received
by Dr. Clarke, were sent to the Centre for Health Promotion Studies for analysis.
The first stage of the analysis involved familiarisation with the data collected
from the semi-structured interviews and the project documentation. All of the
interviews were read through several times in order to get an understanding of
the nature of responses in general and also for each individual project. Once this
process was completed, the data was entered onto the computer.
Project profiles were drawn up based on the documents reviewed and the
combined views gleaned from interviews with the project members. As far as
possible the original statements made by interviewees are reported verbatim.
Questions and interviewee responses were sorted under the following headings:
1. Background to the Project.
2. Cross-Border Co-operation Structures.
3. Nature of Cross-Border Contact.
4. Perceptions of Cross-Border Working.
A case study profile of each of the five projects is presented in the next chapter.
All case study descriptions were forwarded to the original people interviewed in
order to check for accuracy and validity of the profiles prior to inclusion in this
report.
Phase 1 Strand B: Compatibility and Comparability of Mental
Health and Related Health Data Sources
The aim of this component of the study was to ascertain what population based
data relating to mental health existed on the island of Ireland. While nationally
representative samples are most useful for population monitoring, it was decided
to include all surveys even if regional or locally based. The data must have been
collected in the past 10 years on community based samples and not in clinical
situations. The focus in this project is on mental health data at a population level,
giving special weight to data sources useful for mental health promotion. As a
result, studies relating to clinical populations or mental health service statistics
have not been included.
The following domains of mental health and well-being were included for
collection. While it was desirable to have all domains, surveys were included if
one or more of the following were present:
• Measures of population mental health status.
• Socio-demographic and socio-economic factors.
• Lifestyle patterns and quality of life.
• Mental health service utilisation - attitudes and patterns.
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