The mental health of young people attending a Youth Offending Team: a descriptive study

This study documents the health needs of young offenders aged 10-17 attending a community Youth Offending Team (YOT). All young people known to a YOT on a selected date were identified. Health information was collected via semi-structured interviews and standardized questionnaires. Potential mental health problems that required further specialist assessment were identified in 56% of those assessed. Alcohol was consumed more than twice per week by 68%, with 47% having recently smoked cannabis, and, 11% recently using heroin, methadone or crack cocaine. Use of secondary health-care services was common although contact with primary-care services was less frequent with almost half having no contact with a GP in the past year. The process of meeting the physical and mental health needs of young offenders in the community is discussed.