Up to one-third of people in a survey in Derry had mental health problems, a cross-Border conference was told yesterday. The main problems were depression, anxiety and alcohol misuse, according to figures given to the conference by Roy McClelland, Professor of Mental Health at Queen's University.
Mental health problems were almost twice as high among unemployed people. Half of those who were separated or widowed had mental health problems compared with one-third of those who were married, according to the figures presented to the conference, "Promoting Positive Mental Health", at Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.
The rates of mental health problems in the Derry survey "are in most respects similar to those emerging from other socio-economically vulnerable areas in England", he said.
Prof McClelland noted that a separate study had found a high level of mental health problems among people caring for relatives with severe brain injury.
A study of death by suicide in Northern Ireland showed that the most common disorders among people committing suicide were alcohol dependence and major depression, he said.