Antrim and Newtownabbey has the highest number of referrals to children’s mental health services in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, board members have been told.
Speaking at a meeting of the board on Thursday, Ciara McKillop, Assistant Director of Child Health, Development and Emotional Health and Well-being Services, told members that one in eight children and young people in the Northern Trust area has an emotional disorder such as anxiety or depression which is 25 per cent higher than in England.
One in six children and young people in the Northern Trust has an eating disorder.
In July, there were 689 children on the waiting list with the Trust receiving referrals at a rate of 112 per month.
Peak times for referral, she noted, are in September, November, when some schools hold parent-teacher meetings and during “exam season” in May.
She noted a “majority” of referrals from the Antrim and Newtownabbey area.
She said that the Northern Trust and other bodies are continuing to provide funding to the Thrive project, based at the Dunanney Centre, in Rathcoole which works with six primary schools and one post-primary school in “one of the highest areas” of referral.
Commenting on the work of Thrive, co-ordinator Claire Humphrey explained:
“Thrive is a collaboration of local parents, churches, schools, community groups, voluntary and statutory organisations working together to help children and young people thrive. It is a key priority for all of us to strengthen the well-being of children, young people and families.
“We are very aware that children and young people are facing many challenges, including the impact of the pandemic and living in economic uncertainty, and this affects their mental health. We also know that children and young people are hugely resilient and that parents want to support their well-being.
“Everyone in the community is pulling together to support mental health. Schools in the area are providing interventions such as schools’ counselling to build social and emotional resilience.
“Thrive supports school staff who are working directly with children facing mental health challenges to link more effectively with health professionals.
“Thrive’s ambition is that through collaborating effectively we can get children and young people access to the mental health support they need and create loads of opportunities for them to thrive. We want to work with the Northern Trust and others to get help early before mental health issues become serious.”
Meanwhile, the assistant director has indicated that the Trust’s mental health services team has lost six “very experienced” staff members through retirement and promotion during the last 18 months.
She commented that the staff situation is “mirrored in other Trusts”.
Trust board Chair Bob McCann said: “It is a hugely challenging area of work. The Trust has acquitted itself under very difficult circumstances.”
He added: “The staff issue is now almost universal.”