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Almost two in three young people in Ireland “unable to
cope with the problems they face” - survey
March 25th 2009
Almost two in three young people in Ireland are ‘unable to cope with the problems they face’ according to a new report published today by Headstrong, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, with the support of QUINN-healthcare.
The major report on young people’s mental health and well-being entitled Somewhere To Turn To, Someone To Talk To, finds:
Only 38% of young people report being able to cope with the problems they face;
- Only 64% report having an adult available to them to talk through their problems regularly;
- 47% of respondents report having been bullied at some point in their life and,
- 10% have had serious problems and have not sought professional help.
The report proposes a solution to the current thinking and way of working with young people which will significantly enhance the mental health and well-being of future generations of Irish teenagers.
Commenting on the report’s findings, Dr Tony Bates, Founding Director of Headstrong, said: “We need a radical rethink of how we support our young people growing up in Ireland, which looks very different from the Ireland of previous generations. Mental health is the single biggest issue for young people - we need to listen to what they are saying and provide them with the appropriate support and services to meet their needs. Headstrong’s Jigsaw Programme provides the platform for this to happen.”
Headstrong’s Jigsaw Programme is an innovative approach to weaving together supports and services in local communities to enhance the mental health and well-being of young people. It is designed to promote services that are more accessible, youth-friendly, integrated and engaging for young people.
The Jigsaw Model – which is currently active in Co Galway and Ballymun - has been developed on the basis of extensive research and consultation with young people, service providers, families and communities throughout Ireland and internationally. Young people and communities have been directly involved in the planning, design and development of the model, which will differ in each community according to need.
Launching the report, Bairbre Nic Aongusa, Director of the Office of Disability and , Mental Health , Department of Health, said “We now have an opportunity as a country to change the way we respond to young people and their mental health by reducing the stigma and encouraging people to seek help early”.
“This report and the work of Headstrong provide genuine grounds for optimism. It is clear that by reconfiguring our existing resources modestly, we can produce better outcomes for young people and their mental health in an environment where more adults will be willing to listen to young people’s concerns and fears and respond accordingly,” Bairbre Nic Aongusa said.
The report is supported by QUINN-healthcare which is also sponsoring the development of other new resources by Headstrong. These resources focus on mental health and drug and alcohol issues for young people, parents and those working with young people.
Dónal Clancy, General Manager, QUINN-healthcare, said ‘Supporting the healthy development of our young people and their communities is important to QUINN-healthcare. Headstrong is undertaking a significant task in trying to change the service system for the better and we are pleased to be supporting them in any way we can,”’ he said.
