Thirteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

There is mounting evidence that mental disorders are increasingly common among young people and that the behavioural symptoms of mental illness is becoming evident at an early age. Schools and teachers have consistently reported the scale of the problem in recent years, but recently they have also voiced just how ill-equipped they feel to deal with the increasingly complex mental health issues in their respective institutions. Reasons cited for this include a lack of training, financial constraints, and the absence of support from professional NHS service. This research adopted a mixed method approach using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. It assessed the current mental health interventions in primary and post primary schools in Northern Ireland. Whilst there is a range of mental health activity is going on in school, it is fragmented, often viewed as marginal, and not embedded into the curriculum. Clearly there is a need for much more integration between health and education to ensure provision is uniform and appropriate.