National Psychological Wellbeing and Distress Survey (NPWDS)

Study Number (SN): 0032-00

 

Health Research Board (2006/8). National Psychological Wellbeing and Distress Survey [data collection]. Version 1. Dublin: Irish Social Science Data Archive SN: 0032-00  http://www.ucd.ie/issda/datasetsintheissda/nationalpsychologicalwellbeinganddistresssurvey/

National Psychological Wellbeing and Distress Survey (NPWDS), 2006

 

About the Study

This nationally representative survey, conducted by the ESRI on behalf of the Health Research Board (HRB), was designed to measure the extent of psychological distress and self-reported mental health problems in the Irish population, and to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of the Irish adult population who were experiencing symptoms of psychological distress or who had reported mental health problems in the previous year.

The survey used a telephone survey methodology of the general population in the Republic of Ireland, in 2005-2006. Telephone numbers were drawn on a random probability basis and quotas were set for age, gender and social class.

 

Study documentation 2006

  • Questionnaire

  • Report : Tedstone Doherty D, Moran R and Kartalova-O’Doherty (2008) Psychological distress,mental health problems and use of health services in Ireland. HRB Research Series 5.Dublin: Health Research Board

 

National Psychological Wellbeing and Distress Survey (NPWDS), 2008

 

About the Study

This survey is the second survey in the HRB NPWDS. The first, above, 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

Study documentation 2008

  • In relation to the questionnaire, the supplementary questions relating to mental health were the same as for 2006, but the socio-demographic questions were slightly different due to the different methods used by ESRI and Millward Browne. These differences are outlined here: Survey Comparison Document
  • Report: Tedstone Doherty D and Moran R (2009) Mental health and associated health service use on the island of Ireland. HRB Research Series 7. Dublin: Health Research Board.

 

Access

To access the data, please complete a ISSDA Data Request Form for Research Purposes, sign it, and send it to ISSDA by email.

Data will be disseminated on receipt of a fully completed, signed form. Incomplete or unsigned forms will be returned to the data requester for completion.

Please note that any reference to signature and date in this document can be read as meaning the typed name and date where such an application is forwarded electronically. 
 

 

For a list of Health related datasets click here.

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