It is clear that services need to be increased to improve the mental health of young people in Ireland. However, there are clear barriers to providing this support.
Limited funding, staffing pressures, dwindling resources and ever-increasing demands make it a monumental task for charities and organizations providing mental health services to the public.
Dr. Jacinta Stewart, Chair jigsaw puzzlea youth mental health organization, recently stated that “now is the time to start a national dialogue about what youth mental health services should look like and how they should be funded.” At Jigsaw, we are fully aware that the factors behind the growing demand for mental health services and support are complex and multifactorial and cannot be easily addressed. ”
It’s no surprise that teens and young adults can struggle with their mental health. “Sometimes our mental health is good and sometimes it’s not so good. This is normal,” says Jason Smith. Jigsaw Clinical Director. “What feels important is how we cope when things feel more difficult. What we need to strive for and do is remove the stigma that comes with talking about it. It’s about breaking through and opening your mind.”
Aoibhe Smith, 18, said: “With all the negativity these days, there isn’t enough support in schools. Young people don’t have access to school programs that teach them about mental health and how to deal with it. Social media is definitely getting worse [mental health]. There is still too much prejudice to get support. ”
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Mr. Smith clarifies: [mental health]long waiting lists and unreliable second-level mental health services” are barriers to accessing support. She feels strongly that help is available, but not from the government.
Dylan Kelly, 19, knows that young people’s mental health has been severely affected by rising prices and the housing crisis. “There is a sense of bondage as well as uncertainty about the future,” he said, noting that today’s young people face significant barriers to living outside the family home, and that students are “choosing where to live to become independent.” He emphasizes that they cannot be separated. Moving abroad or saying goodbye to loved ones. I know a lot of people are struggling mentally with this and it’s leading to a lot of anxiety and depression. ”
Although Kelly points to economic strain as a contributing factor to young people’s mental health, he generally feels that his own mental health is supported. “I think in Ireland there’s a partial stigma of ‘don’t talk about it’ about the little things in life, but on a larger scale I feel supported. ”
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Sam Kelly highlights that addressing various social and political as well as economic factors could help create better standards of mental health for young people . “A lot of things are connected,” the 22-year-old says. “When you have pressure from so many sources, whether it’s social pressure from work, college, school, or both, you have to be on social media and be on shows. All of them really contribute.
“Early support is important and Jigsaw is bringing this forward with the message that if young people can identify one good adult they can safely talk to, it can be an important first step. I am.
“Being able to start this means that the problem is much more likely not to become a problem, and the need for professional help is reduced. Of course, this also means that adults can also talk about this as a ‘professional’ topic. This means you need to feel comfortable talking about it without feeling scared. It’s our emotions and being able to recognize them and talk about them [that] It’s important. ”
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Parenting comes with its own struggles, and often the desire to resolve the situation is stronger than the need to listen and talk. But avoiding discussions about mental health amplifies the stigma that comes with sharing emotions, struggles, and burdens. Talking about mental health requires the same open conversations that parents and guardians have about dinner choices, sex, friendships, and school. It is suggested that we talk about mental health early and often, giving youth the language to express their concerns and the knowledge that those concerns are valid.
“Of course, this may be outside of the comfort zone for some people,” Jigsaw’s Smith acknowledges, and recommends accessing support. “When you have understanding, it becomes easier to respond and you don’t feel like what is being done is wrong.”
Smith suggests that the most important thing parents and carers can do to support the mental health of children and young people is to ‘be there’. “Ready and ready to listen.”
