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Involuntary commitment in Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Denmark
1Institute of Psychiatric Demography, Aarhus Psychiatric Hospital Risskov, Denmark.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Involuntary commitment rates are significantly higher in Greenland compared to Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Young men in Greenland face a particularly elevated risk of psychiatric commitment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Denmark share legislation for involuntary psychiatric commitment.
- Psychiatric commitment rates vary across regions, necessitating comparative analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare involuntary psychiatric commitment rates among Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark.
- To identify demographic groups and contributing factors associated with higher commitment risks in Greenland.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Danish psychiatric register spanning 1984-1988.
- Employed direct standardization using the Danish population (1984-1988) as the standard.
- Calculated crude and relative commitment risks, stratified by sex and age.
Main Results:
- Greenland exhibited the highest crude commitment rate (43.5/100,000), followed by Denmark (24.2/100,000) and the Faroe Islands (19.2/100,000).
- The relative risk of commitment in Greenland versus Denmark was 2.0, affecting both sexes equally.
- Young men (15-34 years) in Greenland represented 55% of total commitments, indicating a high-risk demographic.
Conclusions:
- Greenland experiences a disproportionately high rate of involuntary psychiatric commitment compared to Denmark and the Faroe Islands.
- Factors contributing to Greenland's elevated risk include higher homicide rates, limited psychiatric resources, smaller communities, and increased alcohol consumption and violence.
- Targeted interventions for high-risk groups, particularly young men, and improved mental healthcare access are crucial in Greenland.