Methodological issues in measuring the mental health of children and young people in Great Britain

In 1999, the first nationally representative survey of the mental health of children and young people aged 5-15 was carried out in Great Britain. A second survey was carried out in 2004. The aim of these surveys was threefold: to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders among young people, to look at their use of health, social and educational services, and to investigate risk factors associated with mental disorders. The achieved number of interviews was 10,500 and 8,000 respectively. Some key questions had to be addressed on a large number of methodological issues and the factors taken into account to reach decisions on all these issues are discussed.