Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2018
401. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to outline the extent to which research has been undertaken to identify the most common causes of concern and stress among young persons in modern times; the extent to which corrective measures can be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19137/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraConcerns and stress, at different levels of severity, experienced by children and young people can arise from many aspects of their lives, from issues related to, for example, their home or school life, physical or mental health, health risk behaviours, parental relationships, friendship networks, social disadvantage, life experiences as a being part of a minority or marginalised group, being a victim of crime or involvement with criminality. Appropriate corrective measures would depend on both the source and severity of such concerns or stress.
As part of the Government-funded Growing Up in Ireland Study, and through other funded research and PhD scholarship programmes, my Department supports a number of research studies, key findings and data outputs relating to our understanding of the lives and experiences of children and young people in Ireland. Many of these are on topics related to aspects of children's lives which may be a source of stress or concern for them, for example, on relationships and friendship networks, experiences of bullying or discrimination, social disadvantage, inequality and mental health issues, and social and emotional outcomes for young people.
My Department also publishes a range of indicator data on the lives of children and young people in the form of the biennial State of the Nation's Children (SONC) reports and in the Better Outcomes Brighter Futures (BOBF) indicator set. Both these sets include indicators on areas commonly associated with concern or stress among young people, including some which were identified through a review of consultations with children. These include relationships with parents, parental mental health, home environment, self-perception, body image, schoolwork load and exam stress.
My Department supports a range of initiatives and programmes to support children and young people, including among disadvantaged, marginalised and vulnerable groups, across the many aspects of their lives that may give rise to concern or stress. This includes through the many actions supporting children and young people that are committed to in a number of Department of Children and Youth Affairs strategies, such as Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the national policy framework for children and young people and the National Youth Strategy. In this context also is the provision of funding for youth programmes and services. In addition, the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, which is funded by my Department, provides funding under the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme and also for mental health supports for young people. The Deputy may wish to consult with other Departments with regard to studies that inform related policy in their respective Departments.
