MP welcomes review of mental health support for young people

by Gráinne Connolly

The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Koulla Yiasouma is initiating an independent review into mental health support for young people in Northern Ireland. 

It's following concerns that provision is inadequate and that access in unequal across the Trust areas. 

The number of children and young people trying to get specific support in the Western Trust is continuing to increase. 

It's increased by approximately 300 children, from 1352 in 2013/14 to 1648 in 2015/16. 

West Tyrone Sinn Féin MP, Barry McElduff has welcomed this review and is calling for greater investment in young people's mental health services. 

He says: 

"The Commissioner for Children and Young People, Koulla Yiasouma has called it right by initiating this review. 

The mental health needs of children and young people are increasing with more than one in five young people suffering a significant mental health problem by the time they reach 18. 

There are particular categories of young people where rates of poor mental health are likely to be even higher. These include young people with a disability or with a long term illness."

Mr McElduff went on to say that he will be working to make the review accessible to those in West Tyrone: 

"I will be engaging directly with the Commissioner's Office so as to ensure that this review will be easily accessed by young people in both the Omagh and Strabane districts. 

Everyone's awareness has been raised in West Tyrone by a number of tragic suicides among young people locally, not least in the past year. 

The families of these young people continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. 

He concluded in stating: 

"I am reassured that this review is aimed at analysing existing support services, how well these services are meeting the needs of young people and where the gaps in provision are.

Future service plans need to take account of the findings of this review when they are published. That needs to be as soon as possible. 

It is my understanding that less than eight per cent of the north's mental health budget is allocated to the child and adolescent mental health system. 

This is not enough and greater investment is needed, as far as I am concerned, not least in the Western Health Trust area."

Linked below is the website of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People: 

http://www.niccy.org