Re-offending in
troubled and aggressive young people can be significantly cut
using a pioneering new mental health approach known as
Multisystemic Therapy, a UK conference was told this week.
Reporting on the initial findings of the first UK evaluation
pilot, researchers found in families with multiple problems that
the use of Multisystemic Therapy reduced the risk of re-offending,
particularly among boys.
The research was led by Dr Geoffrey Baruch, director of the
Brandon Centre in Camden, North London and Dr Stephen Butler and
his team from UCL (University College London).
They found that lower re-offending behaviour was evident two
years down the line compared to existing service approaches, and
can be cost effective, because young people are kept out of
custody or local authority care, and parents are encouraged to use
the voluntary sector and local supports instead.
The approach, approved by NICE (National Institute for Clinical
Excellence) has been trialed across 10 sites in England, having
been successful in the USA and is supported jointly by the
Department for Education, the Youth Justice Board and Department
of Health. First results of the evaluation at one UK site as well
as the US experience were being presented at the conference on
Wednesday 7 July.
Multisystemic Therapy revolves around improving parentling
capacity, increasing young people’s engagement with education and
training, reducing their offending behaviour, and tackling
underlying health or mental health problems, including substance
misuse. It is used with children and young people aged 11-17 years
and their families, where young people are at risk of out of home
placement in either care or custody, due to delinquent and
aggressive behaviour, and anti-social attitudes.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said:
“We must do all we can to keep young people out of the criminal
justice system - these findings show encouraging results about how
we might do that.
“The research shows the key role mental health staff and the
voluntary sector can play in work with young people and their families.”
Children's Minister Tim Loughton said:
"We must make sure that young people with complex needs
are getting the help they need to get their lives back on track.
Today's conference is an excellent opportunity for local
authorities to learn from each other and build effective links, so
they can develop and sustain programmes such as MST."
Graham Robb, Board Member of the Youth Justice
Board said:
“The findings of this evaluation are very encouraging. MST can
turn around the lives of children and families while also making
overall savings to the public purse . The YJB has a strong track
record for exploring the potential of pioneering evidence based
programmes, and as such we are really keen to support MST.”
Notes to Editors
1. For further information, or if you would like to set up an
interview with one of the authors of the study please contact Phil
Cohen on 07867 538 486.
2. Current research on MST internationally was presented by
Professor Scott Henggeler, Director of Family Services Research
Center in South Carolina and Professor Charles Borduin from
Missouri University.
3. There was also the chance to hear from commissioners, managers
and practitioners from MST sites across the UK and from parents
and young people about their experiences.
4. The conference was aimed at all those who are seeking evidence
based, cost effective solutions to working with challenging young
people and their families, including: policy makers, commissioners
within local authorities and PCTs, senior managers and
practitioners within local authority Children’s Services, Youth
Offending Services, CAMHS, Adult Mental Health, Substance Misuse
Services, third sector organisations, those with responsibility
for community safety and researchers in this field.
5. The event, run in conjunction with the Department for
Education and the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, was
held on July 7, 2010 at the Mermaid Conference Centre, London.
6. One in 10 children aged 5-16 years has a mental health
disorder, conduct disorder is the most common disorder in boys
(7%) (ONS 2004).
7. Rates of disorders increase from childhood to adolescence and
50% of young people with conduct disorder may develop anti-social
personality disorder (NICE 2009).
8. Cost effectiveness research on MST from Washington State
Institute for Public Policy suggests that £5 is saved for every £1
invested in the programme. In the UK young people with conduct
disorder currently cost public services 28 x the costs of young
people without conduct disorder between the ages of 10 and 28
years (Scott and Knapp 2001).
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk