Research highlights a concerning rise in poor mental health among young people in Northern Ireland. Surveys show that one in eight 11–19-year-olds meet the criteria for any mood or anxiety disorder and over half of 16 years girls show signs of probable mental ill health. These figures underline the urgent need to foster safe, supportive environments during this critical stage of development, and to promote young people’s social and emotional skills to cope with life’s challenges.
The Mental Health Champion’s Conference, Building Wellbeing in Young People, will examine the pressures facing young people and review existing support systems. This event will offer a valuable opportunity to identify what works, explore areas for improvement, and what settings need to be created that enable young people to thrive. The Conference will be a series of short talks, each concentrating on a different key area including Neurodiversity, Poverty and Digital Spaces.
Building Wellbeing in Young People, takes place on Wednesday 25 February, 9.30 for 10.00 – 14.00.
Further information about the event will be available soon but if you would like to attend the conference, please RSVP to MHC.events@nigov.net
Registration is free but spaces are limited and subject to availability, please register early to avoid disappointment. Confirmation of your attendance will be sent via email only.
Agenda
09:30 Registration
10:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks
Professor Siobhan O'Neill, Mental Health Champion
10:20 Building Wellbeing - Perspectives from Young People Panel
- Chair: Professor Siobhan O'Neill
- Chris Quinn, Commissioner for Children and Young People
- Katrina Crilly, Principal, St. Patrick's College Maghera
- Students from St. Patrick's College Maghera Peer Support Team
11:00 Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age: Risks and Opportunities
Dr Colin Gorman, Clinical Psychologist and Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Ulster University
11:30 Care-Experience Young People
Dr Aideen Maguire, Psychiatric Epidemiologist and Mental Health Researcher, Queen's University Belfast
11:50 Lunch Break
12:45 Neurodiversity and Young People
Ema Cubitt, Independent Autism Reviewer
13:05 Poverty
Sheena McMullen, Senior Policy Adviser and Christine Ellison, Senior Analyst, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
13:25 Approaches to Supporting Young People in Crisis
Gary Symington, Projects Leads and Sinead McIlvenna, Youth Wellbeing Specialist, Lighthouse NI
13:55 Closing Remarks
14:00 Conference Closes