Troubles take toll on health

The report found violence took a toll on mental health

More than 30 years of the Troubles are continuing to affect people's mental health in Northern Ireland, according to a report.

Researchers assessed the mental health of almost 1,700 people aged between 16 and 64 for the survey, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health on Tuesday.

The report found mental health problems were more likely according to how much the Troubles had affected people's lives or their local area.

People were asked how much they and their families had been affected by the violence, and to what degree it had affected the area in which they lived.

Other factors such as religious affiliation, income, long-term illness, stress and available social support were also considered.

SURVEY QUESTIONS

Things change from time to time, but, thinking about the whole period since 1969, how much violence would you say there has been in this area because of the Troubles?

How much have the Troubles affected your own life and the lives of your immediate family?

More than 20% said the Troubles had either "quite a bit" or "a lot" of impact on their lives or those of their families, while about a quarter of respondents reported a similar impact on their local area.

The report found mental health problems occurred more frequently among people living in less affluent areas, people with poor general health and among Catholics.

It took into account that most of the visible signs of the Troubles, such as riots or paramilitary-style attacks, took place in areas characterised by low incomes.

The researchers found that violence represented an additional and separate toll on mental health.

People who said their or their families' lives had been affected came from a wide range of areas and backgrounds.

Although actual violence was a factor in causing mental health problems, the researchers cited intimidation and sectarianism as key factors, as well as what they called the "ghetto mentality".

The report concluded: "The experience of other countries suggests that resolving mental health issues in communities affected by years of violence and displacement will necessitate more than a cessation of violence and may also require an active process of reconciliation to promote social cohesion."

It was compiled from analysis of data collected as part of the Northern Ireland Health and Wellbeing Survey.