A Social Report for Ireland Volume II - the NESC Website

62Admissions to Psychiatric HospitalsThe second indicator in the mental well-being domain is mental illness measuredby the number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals. In 2006, 398 children aged5-17 were admitted to psychiatric hospitals, 84 per cent of whom were aged15-17 (OMCYA, 2008a: 208). The number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals washigher for boys than girls. The most common reason for admission to hospital wasfor depressive disorders (29.6 per cent). Alcoholic disorders accounted for 4.3 percent of admissions and drug dependence for 5.8 per cent of admissions.Youth SuicideExtreme negative feelings and mental illness can sometimes result in deliberateself-harm and the taking of one’s own life. The third indicator in the mental wellbeingcomponent of the health domain is youth suicide among children and youngpeople aged 10-17. In 2006, there were 14 suicides among this age group. Thenumber of suicides for boys was 10, down from a high of 17 in 2003. The number ofsuicides among boys (10) was over twice that for girls (4), see figure 6.31. In 2006,suicide accounted for 14.7 per cent of all deaths for children and young people aged10-17. Even though the numbers of children and young people affected by mentalillness and suicide are relatively small, these events have traumatic and lastingdebilitating effects on the young people and their families and friends.Figure 6.31Number of Suicides by Gender for Children and YoungPeople Aged 10-17, 2002-2006Number of Suicides181614121086420105174162002 20032004 2005 20062124104BoysGirlsSource OMCYA, 2008a: 149.