Council of Europe Round Table on Participation 2 nd December 2009 How young people in Ireland influenced policy development and public awareness on mental health Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Ireland

2 Overview Policy context for participation by children and young people Mental health awareness for young people: top issue voted at national youth parliament (Dáil na nÓg) National consultations with young people on Teenage Mental Health: What Helps and What Hurts? The development of the advertising and on-line public awareness campaign on teenage mental health

3 Policy context for participation by children and young people Goal 1 of the National Children’s Strategy 2000 Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child ‘Children will have a voice in matters that affect their lives and their views will be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity’. These documents establish the right of children and young people to a voice. The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) has the lead role on Goal 1 of the National Children’s Strategy. OMCYA oversees the development and improvement of structures and initiatives that promote and enable participation by children and young people in decision- making.

4 At Dáil na nÓg (national youth parliament) 2008, the top recommendation voted by the 200 delegates, was the need for ‘a positive mental health advertising campaign aimed at teenagers’.

5 Introduction: Mental health consultations with teenagers Level of influence What will be done with their views –Collated –Published in report –Report launched Option to become involved in launch Copy of report sent to every participant

6 Methodology: Mental health consultations with teenagers Open space method No speeches or information Two questions: ‘what helps your mental health?’ ‘what hurts your mental health?’ 2 or 3 post-its Write one issue on each post-it Put it on open space wall YPs assisted yb adults group post-its into workshops These workshops become the issues discussed Prioritising and stick dot voting

7 Outcome: What ‘hurts’ teenagers’ mental health? Being judged for how you look and the pressures associated with school and the exam system were the two most significant areas of hurt. Death of a close family member or friend, the lack of facilities and the effects of peer pressure were also cited as key individual negative impacts on mental health.

8 Outcome: What ‘helps’ teenagers’ mental health? Having a youth cafe or safe space to hang out with friends was identified as paramount. Having less homework to enable young people to use such spaces in which to socialise and relax, especially at the weekends, was also identified as key. Young people also called for a reform of the exam system and a move from sole reliance on exams to continuous assessment.

9 TV advert and on-line awareness campaign on teenage mental health Throughout 2008 and 2009, young people worked with the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention in developing this campaign, using the outcomes of the mental health consultations. The teen mental health TV advertisement and on-line campaign ( were launched on 10th October World Mental Health Day. Young people from the reference panel featured in the TV advertisement.