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Article/Reading: State ‘cannot meet demand’ for youth mental health services, says Department of
Education- Carl O’Brien

1. CONCISE SUMMARY OF READING

In the article, ‘’State ‘cannot meet demand’ for youth mental health services, says Department of Education’’,
by Carl O’Brien, the Department of Education recognise the gap between the demand for mental health services
and the resources available to meet the needs of the students. In the article O’Brien highlights the points made
by the Department of Education, which underlines the urgency we need to address the mental health matters
surrounding the students. At the beginning of the article, he notes how common mental health issues are among
students in Ireland, referring to how much worse it has gotten following the pandemic, with significant increases
in the number of students being referred to child and adolescent mental health services and psychological
services in education. This high number of referrals has put strain on the support services being offered. The
Department’s report admits how serios the situation is, even stating that the state ‘’cannot meet demand’’ of
these services. O’Brien lists some of the factors that contribute to the increased demand for mental health
services, these include the pandemic, early access to technology and social media, or the ‘’bubble wrapping’’ of
children.
The Department proposed to spend €5 Million this year on a pilot project that will offer mental health services
in primary schools. The initial trial will be rolled out across seven counties (Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford,
Mayo, Monaghan, and Tipperary). The Department expect there to be between 4-5,000 children to receive one-
one counselling, and they will each receive six sessions, two of which will be with parents present. The decision
of who requires the most support will be made by the schools and signed off on by parents. The counselling will
be offered during school hours and will be aimed at helping children overcome different obstacles. O’Brien
speaks about the proposed second pilot project which aims at early prevention of emerging needs, boost the
ability of schools to implement entire school prevention strategies, such as offering psycho-educational
assistance to teachers and parents. O’Brien says the Department plan to employ a new type of support
practitioner into the system, the ‘education wellbeing/mental health practitioner’. The Department hope these
practitioners will be graduates of psychology, and education or social science.
In conclusion, O’Brien’s article sheds light on the needs to prioritize the mental health of Irelands youth. The
Department od Education have listed their limitations, but they have a plan in place to combat them, by a
combined effort to support the youth. O’Brien points out the need for investment in this sector in schools and
also aiming it towards early prevention strategies. Overall, the matter of mental health of young people in
Ireland will need to take on a rounded approach, where students will need to be supported from all fronts
whether that be teachers, parents, peers, or mental health workers.

2. CRITICAL REFLECTION

In O’Brien’s article, ‘’State ‘cannot meet demand’ for youth mental health services, says Department
of Education," he highlights the great challenges the mental health services face in Ireland today,
especially with young people. This critical reflection aims to look at the effects of the Department of

© ATU Dept. of Creative Education 2023-2024

 Education admitting that the demand for these services is growing and that it cannot be fully met at
this time. They seek to make meaningful change by promoting a better understanding of the situation
and offering different solutions to the problem at hand.
O’Brien gives a clear image of the state of mental health in Ireland for young people. It draws
attention to worrying data showing that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused an increase in depression,
and anxiety amongst young people. The magnitude of the problem shown by the Department of
Education’s admission that it cannot meet the demands for mental health services underlines how
severe this situation is now. The fact that the Department acknowledged it is a crucial step in dealing
with the services being offered. Many factors have contributed to this crisis surrounding mental health
among young people. Getting access to technology and social media at a young age, academic stress,
a stigma that surrounds mental illnesses, and peer pressure all play a role in damaging the mental
health of young people in Ireland. Long wait times, and the strain on mental health services all
contribute to the issue also. These difficulties can all impact a student’s academic performance as
well, which also adds to stress,’’ Academic performance is significantly hindered by mental illness
itself and ongoing treatment needs: the crises
of onset, subsequent episodes, treatment, ongoing residual symptoms and adjustment to what is often
a lifetime diagnosis. Continuing stigma and sense-of-self issues complicate the picture and these also
contribute to a fall in academic performance’’, Heim. C (2021). Many young people wait until the
mental health has seriously deteriorated before getting the help they need; this could be because of a
lack of early intervention and prevention measures.
Schools are in a brilliant position to offer support to students, but unfortunately, they often don’t have
the facilities to offer this support, ‘’Accordingly, the UK government has made mental health
promotion a priority area and has emphasised
the important role of schools for improving young people’s mental health (Sapthiang et al. 2018).
Indeed, since most children spend a considerable amount of time at school, it is a viable setting for
cultivating protective traits (e.g., emotional literacy, coping skills)’’, Sapthiang, S., Van Gordon, W.,
& Shonin, E., (2019). It is great to hear that the government are trying combat this by proposing to
spend €5 Million this year on a pilot project that will offer mental health services in primary schools.
Teachers are in a brilliant position to see if a student is struggling or not as we see them most days in
class, but I feel that teachers aren’t well enough equipped to deal with these sort of situations, ‘’Adults
who work in schoois can help troubled kids get the attention they need. Teachers, counselors,
administrators, coaches, and advisers who see students every day are in a position to spot trouble
before it gets out of control’’, Vail, K. (2005). The Department of Education now recognise the value
in providing teachers with the proper training they need to deal with students who have mental health
problems. Although, I believe more has to be done to ensure that schools have the proper facilities and
resources available for students.
There has been a poor response from the government to the mental health crisis. Positive steps have
been taken by providing funding and putting a national action plan in place for mental health services.
However, these actions might not be enough to address the issue, especially given the economic
constraints the country face. Also, how well these initiatives work towards helping the youth with
mental health problems will determine how successful they are.
Addressing the metal health service crises requires a rounded approach that puts accessibility,
affordability, and quality of care first. Firstly, there is a need for more funding in this area in schools
to get the proper people hired and give them the resources they require to work. This would reduce the
waiting times and make sure everyone receives appropriate support. Additionally, there is also a need
to focus on early prevention strategies. These strategies include offering books and literacy around
mental health, teaching students coping skills, and by making the school a safe and supportive
environment. By addressing the root causes of mental health issues and providing students with the
skills they need to deal with situations, we can help prevent mental health issues before they arise.
To conclude, this article by Carl O’Brien highlights the need to address the mental health services
issue among young people before it gets worse. By pointing out that the Department of Education

© ATU Dept. of Creative Education 2023-2024

 have admitted they are struggling at the minute means that this article is more than just good reading
but provides a call for action from the Department. If we all work together, we can create an
environment where young people feel supported and heard, which will make for a bright future for the
young people of Ireland.

3. LIST OF REFERENCES

 Heim, C. (2021). Facilitating a Supportive Learning

Experience: The Lecturer’s Role in Addressing Mental Health
Issues of University Students during COVID-19. Journal of
University Teaching and Learning Practice
 Vail, K. (2005). Helping Students through Depression.
Education Digest: Essential Readings Condensed for Quick
Review
 Sapthiang, S., Van Gordon, W., & Shonin, E. (2019). Health
School-based Mindfulness Interventions for Improving Mental
Health: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of
Qualitative Studies. Journal of Child & Family Studies

© ATU Dept. of Creative Education 2023-2024