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4858 Mental Health Report - National University of Ireland, Galway

4858 Mental Health Report - National University of Ireland, Galway

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Findings from the Compatibility and<br />

Comparability <strong>of</strong> <strong>Mental</strong> <strong>Health</strong> and<br />

Related <strong>Health</strong> Data Sources<br />

How would you rate your quality <strong>of</strong> life:<br />

Very poor Poor Neither poor nor good Good Very good<br />

1 2 3 4 5<br />

The Schedule for Evaluation <strong>of</strong> Individual Quality <strong>of</strong> Life (SEIQoL) is an Irish<br />

developed scale which measures general quality <strong>of</strong> life from the perspective <strong>of</strong><br />

the individual respondent (Browne et al. 1997). The individual names five areas<br />

most important to their quality <strong>of</strong> life, describes current functioning in each <strong>of</strong><br />

the areas and outlines the relative weighting or importance they give to each<br />

area in their judgement <strong>of</strong> quality <strong>of</strong> life.<br />

Psychological distress<br />

Psychological distress was measured by seven surveys (four in Republic and two in<br />

North) each using the GHQ-12. The GHQ-12, a widely applied instrument to<br />

indicate psychological distress, is the short form <strong>of</strong> the General <strong>Health</strong><br />

Questionnaire (GHQ) designed by Goldberg (1978) as a self-administered<br />

instrument for use in community settings. The cross national survey also<br />

measured psychological well-being using the Questionnaire on Resources and<br />

Stress (QRS-F) and life satisfaction using the Philadelphia Geriatric Centre Morale<br />

Scale. Many <strong>of</strong> the other mental health indicators were recorded by single surveys<br />

only.<br />

<strong>Mental</strong> and Physical <strong>Health</strong> Problems<br />

Each national survey recorded information relating to self-reported mental and<br />

physical health morbidity and health service utilisation. As was also the case in<br />

the regional or specific population surveys, reported diagnosis <strong>of</strong> depression and<br />

anxiety were the most commonly noted mental health problems. Those needing<br />

mental health services were identified in the <strong>Health</strong> and Social Services for Older<br />

People survey using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS). Among<br />

the depression scales used in individual surveys were the Zung Self-Rating<br />

Depression Scale (Zung 1965) and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies<br />

Depression Scale (CES-D) (Radl<strong>of</strong>f 1977). Physical morbidity was mainly recorded<br />

using the long term limiting illness indicator.<br />

Social Support and Stress Measures<br />

The Northern <strong>Ireland</strong> Survey <strong>of</strong> <strong>Health</strong> and Social Wellbeing survey used the same<br />

perceived social support seven item scale as that in the <strong>Health</strong> Survey for England<br />

1994. However, there was no such comparable measure in the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />

and Lifestyle Survey in the Republic <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ireland</strong>. Respondents were asked about<br />

their perceived level <strong>of</strong> stress in the past year in the Northern <strong>Ireland</strong> national<br />

survey but not in the Republic’s.<br />

98

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