A decade of promoting young people's mental health recognised

A decade of promoting and protecting young people’s mental health and self-esteem was recognised today during a Design for Living seminar that reflected on the partnership between the HPA, Action Mental Health (AMH) and Youth Council Northern Ireland (YCNI).

Over 130 delegates from a wide range of backgrounds attended the seminar at Lagan Valley Island. Speaking at the event, Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “Ten years ago, the Design for Living partnership agreed to facilitate a number of seminars on the theme of young people and self-esteem. Today, 22 seminars later, almost 800 practitioners working in the area of supporting the mental and emotional health needs of children and young people have attended these events, highlighting both the demand and the value placed on them over the years.

“Research carried out by the HPA with 1,700 primary school children throughout Northern Ireland aged 8–11 years revealed that 77% said they always or almost always had a grown-up to go to for help when they had a real problem. However, boys were less likely than girls to feel there was a grown-up they could go to if they had a problem – 12% of boys, compared to 6% of girls, said they never or almost never had a grown-up to go to.¹

“Throughout life, children will have a range of positive and negative experiences that can impact on their emotional wellbeing, so it is vital that parents, guardians and those working with them understand the key role they have to play in supporting and positively promoting their emotional wellbeing, which is crucial to their overall development from childhood into adulthood.”

Speakers presented practical information, advice and initiatives to promote and protect the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people across a range of settings. Presentations included topics on promoting young people’s mental health through physical activity; ‘Belonging in the early years’; and a practitioner’s insight into working with young men, called ‘Getting in early’ – the Boys Development Programme.

Reflecting on the work of the Design for Living partnership, Ian Walters, Chief Executive, AMH, said: “I and AMH are proud to be members of the DFL Partnership. It has been a pleasure to work with colleagues in the HPA and YCNI over the last 10 years. When the first series of workshops began, we thought they would run for two consecutive years. The seemingly never-ending demand for workshops over a decade provides hard evidence of the importance of mental wellbeing in young people and the need for those working with young people to be given support and advice. I hope the work of the partnership will not be interrupted by structural reform of the health and education services.”

ENDS

Notes to the editor:
There will be a media facility at Lagan Valley Island on Wednesday 11 March from 11:00am when Dr Brian Gaffney and a number of speakers will be available for interview.

¹Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland. Self-perception of emotional comfort, self-esteem, social acceptance and social support: Findings from a school survey on wellbeing among 8-11 years olds. Belfast: HPA, 2009. Unpublished.

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The HPA Press Office on Tel: 028 9031 1611.