Detention of children and adolescents under mental health legislation: a scoping review of prevalence, risk factors, and legal frameworks

Schölin, Lisa; Tucker, Zack; Chopra, Arun; Borschmann, Rohan; McKay, Colin

Abstract

Background: For individuals with severe mental illness, involuntary assessment and/or treatment (hereafter detention) can be a necessary intervention to support recovery and may even be lifesaving. Despite this, little is known about how often these interventions are used for children and adolescents. Methods: This global scoping review set out to: (1) map the current evidence around mental health detentions of children and adolescents (< 18 years); (2) identify the clinical, sociodemographic, and behavioural factors associated with detention; and (3) document the views of professionals and young people on the implementation of mental health legislation. Results: After searching databases of peer-reviewed literature and citation chaining, 42 articles from 15 jurisdictions were included. About one fifth of psychiatric admissions in national register data were detentions, however trends were only available for a few high-income Western countries. The circumstances justifying detention and the criteria authorising detention varied between studies, with a mix of clinical factors and observed behaviours reported as the reason(s) warranting/precipitating a detention. Particular groups were more likely to experience detention, such as children and adolescents from minority ethnic communities and those with a documented history of abuse. There was a notable absence of qualitative research exploring the views of professionals or children and adolescents on detention. Conclusion: Further research is needed to explore the impact of detention on those aged < 18 years, including national register-based studies and qualitative studies. This is particularly relevant in nations currently undergoing legislative reform.

Citation

Schölin, L., Tucker, Z., Chopra, A., Borschmann, R., & McKay, C. (2024). Detention of children and adolescents under mental health legislation: a scoping review of prevalence, risk factors, and legal frameworks. BMC Pediatrics, 24(1), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-04464-6

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 5, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jan 4, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Jan 10, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 10, 2024
• Journal: BMC Pediatrics
• Publisher: BMC
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-04464-6
• Keywords: Compulsion, Adolescents, Children, Involuntary hospitalisation, Mental health legislation, Mental health detention
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3446123