Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Thursday 16°CFriday 16°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Derry CityHealthNewsPolitics

Durkan: Rise in child mental health issues concerning

written by cassoscoop February 7, 2022
ShareTweet

THE SDLP’s Mark H Durkan has renewed calls for mandatory mental health and well-being education within both primary and secondary settings, following reports that the number of young people experiencing a mental health crisis has risen significantly over the course of the COVID pandemic.

Referrals via hospital emergency departments to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS) has risen by 24% since 2019-2020.

Said the Foyle MLA: “These startling figures further underscores the desperate need for mandatory mental health and wellbeing training within our schools to ensure children are equipped with the essential skills to understand and recognise their emotions, to build resilience required to deal with the hardships life will inevitably bring.

“Access to this type of early intervention support is important and would prevent escalating numbers of children and young people reaching crisis point.

“It is heart-breaking to learn that so many children and their families are seeking mental health support at emergency departments, feeling they have nowhere else to turn.

“The events of the pandemic have no doubt impacted on these figures however, problems around the lack of children’s mental health support existed pre 2020.

“The Department of Health failed time and time again to implement the recommendations of several reports.”

Mr Durkan added: “Whilst I welcome ongoing multi-agency approach to mental health and well-being currently undertaken by the Department, Public Health Agency and EA – clearly it isn’t as comprehensive as it needs to be.

“I’m also cognisant that the Healthy Happy Minds pilot service, developed by the Department of Education to support therapeutic and counselling services in primary schools, is due to end next month.

“I’ve written to Minister McIlveen urging her to extend this provision beyond March 2022.

“These figures should be a wake-up call. No child should be facing a mental health crisis in the first place, they certainly shouldn’t be waiting in excess of nine weeks to access support.

“We need to do better.”

Durkan: Rise in child mental health issues concerning was last modified: February 7th, 2022 by cassoscoop

Tags:
.child mental health issuesDEPARTMENT OF HEALTHDerry CityDurkan: Rise in child mental health issues concerningEDUCATION AUTHORITYEducation Minister Michelle McIlveenFOYLE MLAMark H DurkanPublic Health AgencySDLP
ShareTweet
cassoscoop

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Council backs motion to confer Freedom of...

3 mins ago

Police appeal over wanted Co Derry man...

13 mins ago

Harkin: Council needs to challenge pay hypocrisy

5 hours ago

Thousands expected for Stendhal music and arts...

8 hours ago

Cross-border healthcare scheme to be extended

8 hours ago

Artist appointed to mark contribution of Derry’s...

9 hours ago

Police renew appeal over Co Derry road...

10 hours ago

Two men released over dissident republican terror...

11 hours ago

Durkan steps down as Mental Health APG...

1 day ago

‘Inquest verdict vindication of family’s fight for...

1 day ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022
  • Glenapp Castle: Only a few miles from home but a million miles away

    December 20, 2021
  • DD Travel Feature: The Unsung Shores of Portugal

    November 12, 2021
  • Derry meeting led young Donegal woman to high profile murder

    July 16, 2021
  • DD Travel: Living like a local in Lixouri

    December 17, 2020

Courts

  • ‘Inquest verdict vindication of family’s fight for truth’

    June 29, 2022
  • Unarmed Derry mother was shot by soldier in ‘unjustified’ circumstances

    June 29, 2022
  • Man charged with dangerous driving after car crash

    June 14, 2022
  • Derry couple’s romantic encounter disturbed by Gardai during lockdown

    June 13, 2022
  • Four men charged over commercial burglaries

    June 12, 2022

Donegal Daily

  • Court asked not to send student caught with child pornography to jail

    13 minutes ago
  • Mourners at funeral of little Grace Mary Sweeney told ‘Words are inadequate’

    5 hours ago
  • Burglar stabbed man after being found hiding in daughter’s bedroom

    6 hours ago

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
Derry Daily

© 2022 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


Back To Top

Posting....