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	More than half young people may have a form of mental health disorder before the age of 25, according to a new study.</p>
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	The conditions are mostly mood disorders, anxiety, abnormal eating habits and alcohol abuse, said the research published in the &#39;Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine&#39;.</p>
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	The study involved a representative sample of 212 young people from schools in north Dublin, interviewing them at aged 12-15 and following them up when they were 19-24 years old.</p>
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	The research found 28.4pc had mood disorders, 27.1pc suffered anxiety and 22.7pc had substance abuse disorders. One in four had more than one problem.</p>
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	Personality disorders were found in 2.3pc while lifetime prevalence of binge-drinking was 75pc and cannabis use 65pc.</p>
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	The results underline the importance of early intervention in order try to give young people the best chance to get on with having full, productive and normal lives, said the College of Psychiatrists in Ireland.</p>
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	Family</p>
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	Other research shows that the family is central to the young person&#39;s mental health.</p>
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	The recession may have played an important role as unemployment and debt have been linked to poor mental health, they added. The majority of mental illness begins in childhood and adolescence.</p>
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	Psychiatrist Prof Mary Cannon of Beaumont Hospital said: &quot;It is time to start focussing on providing specialised services catering for the need of young people particularly during the transition from adolescence into young adulthood.&quot;</p>
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	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/half-of-young-irish-may-have-mental-disorder-31053848.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/half-of-young-irish-may-have-mental-disorder-31053848.html</a></p>
