National Psychological Wellbeing and Distress Survey (NPWDS), 2008

This survey is the second survey in the HRB NPWDS. The first was carried out in the Republic of Ireland only in 2005/2006 (Tedstone Doherty et al. 2008). This second survey is the first population-based mental health survey that allows for direct comparisons between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is also the first study to provide important information as to the determinants of the use of GP services for the treatment of mental health problems. This survey, like the first, used a telephone survey methodology of the general population. Telephone numbers were drawn on a random probability basis and quotas were set for age, gender and social class. All interviews were carried out between 21 November and 17 December 2007. Millward Brown IMS, was the survey company used. The findings show: A higher prevalence of self-reported mental health problems in the North than in the Republic A higher use of psychotropic medication for the Northern Ireland than the Republic A higher proportion of people in Northern Ireland attended the GP for mental health problems than in the Republic There were no differences between the jurisdictions in the use of secondary mental health services or in the preferred sources of support which included the GP and family and friends