LEADING PSYCHOLOGIST TO DISCUSS SERIOUS ISSUES IMPEDING DELIVERY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Dr Tony Bates, founder/director of Headstrong and author of A Vision for Change, the Government’s ten year policy on mental health reform, will speak of the serious issues impeding the delivery of mental health services for children and young people at the 2009 Children in Hospital Ireland annual lecture.
Young People in Distress – Who Cares?is the title of the lecture that will take place at the Davenport Hotel in Dublin 2 on Wednesday, November 25 at 6.30pm.
Dr Bates said in the build-up to the lecture: “The dearth of facilities and the slowness with which mental health problems are being addressed in the community and in our hospitals add to the difficulties being faced by children and young people throughout the country every day. The lecture, in addition to raising awareness of the topic, will suggest ways in which we can better deal with issues in a humane, timely and effective manner.”
Mary O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer of Children in Hospital Ireland said: “With the development of the new National Paediatric Hospital underway, the Department of Health is examining a range of issues relating to the hospitalisation of children which here-to-fore they have not addressed. Decisions taken now will have an impact on the delivery of hospital services for children for the future. By focussing our 2009 lecture on mental health care for children and young people, we want to highlight issues around the provision of facilities – both in the community and hospital-based – and to influence thinking at high-level at this pivotal time.”
In 2008, 247 children were admitted to adult psychiatric units, according to the Inspector of Mental Services Report 2008. This contravenes the European Association of Children in Hospital Charter, article six of which states: “Children shall be cared for together with children who have the same developmental needs and shall not be admitted to adult hospital wards.” 3,117 children were on waiting lists for Child and Adult Mental Health Services in November 2008.
Young people in Ireland experiencing high levels of anxiety are dealing with their distress in ways that often cause alarm. Dr Bates will explore how we can make sense of what’s happening for these children and how best to support them through tough times and build the self confidence required to deal with the disappointments and challenges of life. The general public is invited to join health professionals at the event.
Registration is from 6.30pm and the lecture will start promptly at 7pm. Admission is free. The event is scheduled to run to 8.30pm. The Davenport Hotel is located at Merrion Square and can be contacted at 01 6073500. For inclusion on the guest list and further information, Children in Hospital Ireland can be contacted at Locall: 1890 25 26 82 or by e-mailing info@childreninhospital.ie.
Dr Tony Bates is available for further comment and media interviews can be facilitated prior to the event. (Contact Michael McGlynn, Communications Executive with CHI, at 01 8780448 or 087 9082970.) Mary O’Connor, who will respond to Dr Bates’ presentation, is available for further comment and can be contacted at 01 8780448 or at 086 8466861.
Images
An image of Dr Bates, Mary O’Connor and Dympna McMahon, chairperson of CHI, promoting the event is available through Aidan Crawley photography. Individual images are also available.
Additional information
Dr Tony Bates
Dr Tony Bates is the Founding Director of Headstrong – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health. He has 30 years experience working in mental health. Prior to founding Headstrong in March 2006, Tony worked as Principal Clinical Psychologist at St James’ Hospital. He was editor and full-time writer of A Vision for Change, the ten-year Government policy on mental health services reform.
History of the CHI Lecture
This is the seventh CHI annual lecture and previous speakers have included Professor Fiona McNicholas (UCD), Professor Seamus Cowman (RCSI), Mr Fergus Finlay (then Chef de Cabinet, Labour Party, now chief executive of Barnardos), Professor Brendan Drumm (HSE) and Ms Emily Logan (Ombudsman for Children).
