THE recession is taking
its toll on children in Donegal with shock figures
showing that 30% more youngsters around Ireland are
suffering from mental health issues.
Unemployment among parents, financial hardship and
other recession-related problems, has caused a surge
in the numbers of children suffering from social
dysfunction and withdrawal. More children are also
suffering from depression and various mental health
issues with the numbers coming forward for treatment
increasing by 30% in the last two years.
The figures were compiled by the organisers of this
year’s National Mental Healthcare Conference which
is seeing more children presenting at frontline
clinics.
“In a recession, the stress experienced by children
tends to increase significantly and we’re seeing
certainly now seeing a corresponding escalation in
those experiencing stress and mental health issues
and coming in to avail of services," said conference
chairman, Dr Ian Gargan.
"Children have quite different treatment
requirements to adults and Ireland’s challenge is to
find new and relevant ways of treating our
children’s mental health,"
This year's conference is dealing solely with the
issues of children and young people and will take
place in Dublin's Burlington Hotel on September 27.
Speakers will include Judge Conal Gibbons; Professor
Fiona McNicholas, consultant child and adolescent
psychiatrist and Michele Kerrigan, CEO of Grow In
Ireland. |
