Recent research and surveys among the Irish youth have resulted in some shocking results. With children as young as four showing signs of mental health and self-harm, Ireland may have a higher number of mental health cases than America and Europe.
Mental health issues persist across the nation
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland conducted a study that came to the conclusion that one in five young adults from the age of 19 to 24 was suffering from mental health problems while one in six children aged 11-13 were experiencing mental health problems. Drug and alcohol abuse among young students is prevalent in schools and many parents believe that it is contributing to the situation. The possibility of suffering from depression and anxiety as adults also increases if the individual has a history regarding mental health problems.
Worrying reports stating that 19% of all Irish young adults have thought about suicide at some point in their life and 75% meet the criteria for a binge drinking problem. More worryingly, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services have over 2,500 children on a waiting list with some children taking drastic measures because they could not get the necessary help in time. According to mental health specialists, the list should not exist at all with many children seeing it as their only option due to a lack of services. Mental health services in Ireland are limited to a large extent and a lack of organizations in less populated areas is worsening the problem. The services once received have their fair share of problems as well. Many organizations are waking up to this cold truth and change is on the rise. The Children’s Mental Health Coalition, for example, has 53 member organizations and is chaired by Mental Health Reform.
What is the problem?
A lack of qualified staff has seen many organizations limiting the number of referrals they are accepting. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Waterford have stopped accepting referrals altogether because of a vacant psychiatrist spot and the inability to fill it with someone qualified. Many individuals in a position of power are trying to catch the attention of the Minister of State for Primary and Social care and the Minister of Health. Even though action is being taken in regard to a lack of suitable staff, organizations are still shutting down because of this problem. Many services have only half of the staff that is necessary which is inevitably leading students with nowhere to go for help.
People who are making a difference
Dr Malie Coyne has over eighteen years of experience as a mental health psychologist and currently specialises at the Primary Care Child and Family Psychology Service in Galway. She is also a lecturer at NUI Galway. Suffering from an eating disorder when she was younger and constantly moving from place to place through her childhood left her feeling unsettled and confused. Over time she used this to become stronger and became committed to helping children across Ireland who are in similar situations.
Light at the end of the tunnel
There are plenty of people like Dr Coyne who have dedicated their lives to making Ireland a safer place for young children as well as organizations whose primary aim is to make Ireland a great place for a child to be born. These efforts are steadily reducing the long list of children with a lack of services and making Ireland a better place for children to grow.