Derry awareness event sparks vital conversations on youth mental health

PICTURED ABOVE (left to right): Amy Carlin (speaker), Niamh Crawford (Foyle Port), Rhonda Murphy (AWARE NI), Lynette McKinney (Foyle Port), Ceaslagh Quigley (speaker), Dr Chris Sharkey (Royal College of Psych), Rueben McMonagle (Speaker), Brian McGrath (Chief Executive of Foyle Port), Mayor of Derry and Strabane Lilian Seenoi-Barr, Caroline McLoughlin (AWARENI).

AWARE NI, the depression charity for Northern Ireland, teamed up with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to host the 'Let's Talk about Young People and Mental Health' awareness-raising event in the city.

Held at the City Hotel on Tuesday, June 18th, the event aimed to shed light on the impact of mental ill-health on children and young people within the local community and highlight the array of support services available.

Key highlights of the event included an opening address from Mayor Lilian Seenoi-Barr, an informative presentation from Dr Chris Sharkey of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, personal stories from young people who have experienced mental ill-health, and a presentation from AWARE NI demonstrating the outcomes from a recent youth mental health pilot, supported by Foyle Port.

The mental health needs of children and young people in Northern Ireland are more significant compared to other UK nations. In Northern Ireland, 1 in 8 children and young people experience emotional difficulties, and 1 in 8 meet the criteria for a mood or anxiety disorder.

Recent figures from the Department of Health highlight the need for mental health support for young people, with almost 2,000 waiting on a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) assessment, nearly 50% of whom have been waiting longer than nine weeks.

Rhonda Murphy, Head of Support Services at AWARE NI, said: "Awareness-raising events like this are crucial for us. We're heartened to see so many community members and young people come together to share their experiences and learn more about young people's mental health.

"With access to appropriate treatment and support, young individuals can manage their mental health effectively and maintain positive mental health throughout their life journeys. We are delighted to have had an opportunity to consider new practices to deliver mental health support directly to young people in the community following the completion of a pilot programme, kindly funded by Foyle Port."

The AWARE NI  pilot, which combined AWARE's Mood Matters Young People mental health and wellbeing programme with mental health peer support, was delivered to 83 young people across Derry and  received extremely positive feedback. This programme aimed to equip young people with the knowledge and skills to maintain good mental health and build resilience to better deal with life's challenges.

Foyle Port stated: “We are pleased to support this pilot programme which empowers young people with the resources and knowledge needed to prioritise their mental wellbeing.”

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr said she was delighted to attend the AWARE NI event and gave her support to the charity’s call for additional resources to provide mental health support services for young people.

The Mayor stated: “This was a very interesting and insightful event about how people are working collaboratively to make a real difference to the lives of young people facing emotional difficulties.

"It also highlighted the urgent need for more resources to continue with this positive work and the importance of providing programmes for young people to give them the skills to look after their mental health and everyday life challenges. I will be doing my bit as Mayor of this city and district to be a voice for these young people and do all I can to lobby for resources and promote youth initiatives.”

AWARE NI runs mental health support groups and education programmes in Northern Ireland to support those living with mental ill-health and equip individuals and communities with the skills and knowledge to maintain positive mental health.