Experiences of detained young offenders in need of mental health care

Purpose: To explore the experiences of young people detained in the juvenile justice system and in need of mental health services. Methods: An ethnomethodological analysis was done using Kleinman's Explanatory Model Interview Guide to explore the perceptions of detained young people in need of mental health treatment. Findings: Five themes were extracted from focus groups, indicating lack of control in their lives and lack of family and community support. Although participants expressed feelings of hopelessness and depression, they perceived that it was better to be tough than to be sick. Conclusions: The findings indicate the need for multimodal treatment interventions to sequentially address the multiple internal and external factors contributing to persistent problem behaviors in children.