Ulster Unionist Party Health spokesperson, Jo-Anne Dobson MLA, has expressed her shock after it was revealed that 338 young people under the age of 16 presented at Northern Ireland’s emergency care departments as a result of either self-harm or suicidal thoughts in the nine months between 1 April and 31December 2014.

The Upper Bann MLA said:

“Northern Ireland has one of the world’s highest rates of poor mental health and wellbeing. The problem is prevalent across our adult population, but what is perhaps less well-known is how the issue affects our young people.

“Through information revealed to the Ulster Unionist Party in an Assembly Question to the Health Minister, we have found that 338 children under the age of 16 presented at emergency care departments as a result of self-harm or suicidal acts or thoughts.

“That is a frightening statistic, especially when we consider that it only covers only a 9 month period. Figures were not available for other years we sought, so in reality the situation is likely to be much worse.

“It is clear that poor mental health is having a major impact on our children and young people. Issues such as bullying, anxiety and body image may all be contributing to our younger generation’s poor emotional wellbeing. I suspect however there may also be other more local societal issues also affecting it.

“For instance, research from the Commission for Victims and Survivors found that children in Northern Ireland continue to remain a group impacted by legacy issues, directly through exposure to ongoing violence and paramilitarism, and indirectly through the effects of Troubles-related mental disorders on their parents.

“Unless young people who present at A&Es with these issues receive the support the need, their problems are likely to spiral into acute, long-term mental illness. If the problem goes unchecked the Health authorities are condemning a generation to risk of self –harm and suicide.”  

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Number of Self-harm and Suicidal Ideation Presentations 1 at Emergency Care Departments (2007/08, 2011/12 and 2014/15)

1 The number of presentations does not equal the number of individuals, as an individual can present to an emergency care department more than once

2 Includes provisional information for the period 1st April 2014 – 31st December 2014