Mission: To make health a top priority for everyone in Northern Ireland.

Seminar promotes young people’s self-esteem

Dr Tony Humphreys, leading consultant clinical psychologist in Ireland, today highlights the importance of promoting the self-esteem of young people as being paramount to their mental health and overall wellbeing.

The Design for Living Partnership, which is made up of the Health Promotion Agency (HPA), Action Mental Health and the Youth Council for Northern Ireland, has carried out research which revealed that one in five young people in Northern Ireland aged between 16–25 years experience mental health difficulties resulting in sleep disturbances, stress, anxiety and behavioural problems.¹ As a result of these findings the Partnership has over a number of years organised an annual series of seminars aimed at professionals who work with young people.

Speaking about the event Dr Humphreys said: “Nurturing self-esteem from an early age is the key to helping young people grow up feeling secure, confident and keen to face life’s challenges. To understand young people’s challenging behaviours is essential to their resolution. Judgements and harshness serves only to exacerbate them. So, attention to how a young person feels is an essential responsibility for parents, teachers and others who are accountable for their welfare.”

The aim of the seminar is to raise awareness and improve knowledge and skills in the area of young people and self-esteem. Topics covered include ‘All difficult behaviour makes sense’ and ‘Recognising what blocks young people from being real’.

Deirdre McNamee, Senior Manager for Public Health at the HPA, said: “It is widely recognised that self-esteem will affect how young people think and feel about themselves which in turn will affect their behaviour in school, at home and the long-term relationships they develop in later life.

“Young people will have a range of positive and negative experiences throughout adolescence which can impact on their wellbeing and it is important that those working with young people understand the importance of promoting self-esteem.”

This is the second seminar in an annual series of three mental health workshops focusing on promoting positive self-esteem. The third seminar will take place on 7 March 2006 at Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn.

END

Notes to the Editor:
¹Design for living research to support young people’s mental health and wellbeing. HPA 2001.

The Design for Living Project aims to promote and protect young people’s mental and emotional health.