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Mentally disturbed youngsters 'ignored'
Only six inpatient beds for 250 young people
Young people with mental health problems are being let down, as the system in Northern Ireland struggles to cope with a steady rise in the number of cases.
There are just six beds devoted to inpatient adolescent psychiatry in the province and they have to cope with around 250 cases each year.
Research carried out by the South and East Belfast Trust has shown that Northern Ireland has a particularly high rate of young people being admitted to hospital with psychiatric problems.
It is believed a range of factors, such as the closure of children's homes, cutbacks in the care system, family breakdowns and the aftermath of punishment beatings, have contributed to the increase in mental illness in young people.
Stigma
Dr Ewan McEwan, consultant in adolescent psychiatric care at the Young People's Centre in Belfast said the stigma attached to mental illness can often increase anxiety in youngsters.
"Some of them feel tremendously stigmatised, to the point that they wouldn't even come in to see people like us. I think that boys have more of a problem than girls. I was recently talking to a boy who wouldn't even consider going to a counsellor, let alone a psychiatrist."
There are just six beds devoted to inpatient adolescent psychiatry in the province and they have to cope with around 250 cases each year.
Research carried out by the South and East Belfast Trust has shown that Northern Ireland has a particularly high rate of young people being admitted to hospital with psychiatric problems.
It is believed a range of factors, such as the closure of children's homes, cutbacks in the care system, family breakdowns and the aftermath of punishment beatings, have contributed to the increase in mental illness in young people.
Stigma
Dr Ewan McEwan, consultant in adolescent psychiatric care at the Young People's Centre in Belfast said the stigma attached to mental illness can often increase anxiety in youngsters.
"Some of them feel tremendously stigmatised, to the point that they wouldn't even come in to see people like us. I think that boys have more of a problem than girls. I was recently talking to a boy who wouldn't even consider going to a counsellor, let alone a psychiatrist."
Some of them feel tremendously stigmatised  |
Dr Ewan McEwan
|
Arlene Healey, manager of the Belfast Family Trauma Centre said the issue was compounded by the fact that young people were often put onto adult psychiatric wards because of the shortage of beds for adolescents.
"It's a very frightening place for a young person to be and often the first question they ask themselves is, 'Is that going to be me, is that how I'm going to be?' and really it carries huge distress."
Urgent action
The issue has prompted concern among health professionals and politicians alike.
Many had hoped the new Northern Ireland Assembly would address the problem, but, in the wake of the suspension, Monica McWilliams from the Women's Coalition Party said there was a need for a public enquiry.
"It is an urgent issue that needs emergency attention. We need more secure beds, we need staff who're specialists in this area to deal with these young people. Otherwise we're going to have them wandering the streets, harming themselves, attempted suicide and indeed suicide is going to increase and crime rates obviously, with these kids ending up eventually in juvenile justice centres."
"It's a very frightening place for a young person to be and often the first question they ask themselves is, 'Is that going to be me, is that how I'm going to be?' and really it carries huge distress."
Urgent action
The issue has prompted concern among health professionals and politicians alike.
Many had hoped the new Northern Ireland Assembly would address the problem, but, in the wake of the suspension, Monica McWilliams from the Women's Coalition Party said there was a need for a public enquiry.
"It is an urgent issue that needs emergency attention. We need more secure beds, we need staff who're specialists in this area to deal with these young people. Otherwise we're going to have them wandering the streets, harming themselves, attempted suicide and indeed suicide is going to increase and crime rates obviously, with these kids ending up eventually in juvenile justice centres."
It is an urgent issue that needs emergency attention. |
Monica McWilliams
|
The Department of Health has admitted there is a problem. Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, Dr Ian McMaster said:
"The Department does recognise the pressure on inpatient beds and indeed Dr Campbell, the Chief Medical Officer has asked, through the Eastern Health Board, to set up a working group to look at a regional review for the numbers of adolescent inpatient beds specifically."
Family burden
Until the issue is addressed at a higher level, the burden of looking after young people with mental illnesses often falls on their families.
Heather Hoyle, whose teenage son has been in children's homes, secure units and psychiatric wards for the last two years, said health officials are washing their hands of the problem.
"At times it seems as though they're prepared to let young children and adolescents drift, in the hope that maybe they'll get into bother with the police and that's the matter just taken out of their hands and that's an end to it."
Her son is now living in bed and breakfast accommodation, because there is nowhere in Northern Ireland that will care for him with his violent behavioural problems.
"The Department does recognise the pressure on inpatient beds and indeed Dr Campbell, the Chief Medical Officer has asked, through the Eastern Health Board, to set up a working group to look at a regional review for the numbers of adolescent inpatient beds specifically."
Family burden
Until the issue is addressed at a higher level, the burden of looking after young people with mental illnesses often falls on their families.
Heather Hoyle, whose teenage son has been in children's homes, secure units and psychiatric wards for the last two years, said health officials are washing their hands of the problem.
"At times it seems as though they're prepared to let young children and adolescents drift, in the hope that maybe they'll get into bother with the police and that's the matter just taken out of their hands and that's an end to it."
Her son is now living in bed and breakfast accommodation, because there is nowhere in Northern Ireland that will care for him with his violent behavioural problems.
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