News & Events

Understanding the Social Context of Youth Mental Health

Date Released: 26 February 2024

Back row: Dr Caroline Heary & Kyra Renaud, School of Psychology, Dr Charlotte Silke, UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre Front Row: Dean Kenny, President, University of Galway Students Union, Prof Margaret Barry, School of Psychology, Dr Bernadine Brady, UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, Prof AnnMarie Groarke, School of Psychology & Dr Carmel Devaney, UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre. Credit: Andrew Downes

Understanding the Social Context of Youth Mental Health

Researchers at University of Galway have identified that young people who have suffered adversity in the home, among peers, or at school are substantially more at risk of self-harm compared to young people who are unlikely to have experienced such adversities. The report, Adolescent Mental Health & Adversity - Profiles and Trends in the West of Ireland 2018-2022, launched on Thursday 22^nd February, was led by academics at the UNESCO Child, and Family Research Centre, the School of Political Science and Sociology and the School of Psychology, and examines statistics from Planet Youth Surveys where 4^th year post-primary school pupils in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon self-report on a range of topics.

Presentations:

Prof. Barbara Dooley, UCD. What contexts are linked to the mental health of young people in Ireland? Findings from My World Survey 2

Dr Charlotte Silke , University of Galway. Adolescent mental health and adversity: Profiles and trends in the West of Ireland from 2018-2022

Mr Dean Kenny, President, University of Galway Students Union. Addressing youth mental health - ‘seizing the awkward’

Dr Ingunn Marie Eriksen, Oslo Metropolitan University. Achievement culture in youth: Gender, class and community

Prof. Margaret Barry, University of Galway. Enhancing protective factors for youth mental health and wellbeing