Mental Health Policy Document by Young Fine Gael

A Policy Document on Mental Health in Ireland

Promoting Positive Mental Health

Dear Friend, This policy document is centred on mental health, an incredibly important issue and one that affects many in our society. This document includes 12 key recommendations that will be presented to Government with a view to legislative improvements that will address this serious issue. I hope you will find it informative and will support us during this campaign.

Yours sincerely,

Dale McDermott President Young Fine Gael

Introduction Mental health is a major issue for young people in Ireland. This is why the Young Fine Gael National Executive chose this as one of the issues for the Policy Sub-Committee to prioritise this term. The subCommittee compiled this policy along with our internal policy “Promoting Positive Mental Health” which details what actions YFG will take to promote Menatl Health within our organisation. In researching for this policy, the Young Fine Gael Policy Sub-Committee has looked at a broad range of issues in Ireland to try and support young people’s mental health. We have looked at how schools can support mental health through the teaching of Physical Education (PE) and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE). We have also looked at the role Government Departments as well as wider society. The statistics for Ireland show that there are approximately 550 suicides per annum, approximately 12,000 cases of deliberate self-harm treated per annum, while a further 60,000 cases of self-harm are estimated as “hidden cases” per annum. Furthermore the average age for the first act of self-harm is 16 years old.1 Mental Health as often been viewed as the ‘Cinderella’ of the Health Services. YFG believes that Mental Health Services are as important as Physical Health. It is recognised that being physically healthy impacts positively on your mental health, and we believe that being mentally healthy brings positives to physical health. We are heartened to see many campaigns around this issue beginning in Ireland and the UK, including the ‘Green Ribbon’ Project from SeeChange to tackle the stigma around mental health, Pieta House who provide support to those in Crisis situations, and the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) who challenge the stigma around men seeking help. Young Fine Gael believes that actions are needed across every aspect of society. We hope that this policy will provoke discussion and debate about Mental Health in Ireland and how we as a society can tackle the causes and build a better society for our Young People.

1 Anderson, E, National Suicide Research Foundation, ‘Mental health and suicidal behaviour among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Ireland’, Presentation to Cork Cloyne and Ross Diocesan Synod, 6th September 2014

Promoting Positive Mental Health

Key Recommendations • YFG calls on the Press Council to develop guidelines for the media on the reporting of Mental Health and Suicide. • YFG calls on the Government to set up a body image campaign in Ireland. • YFG calls for the full implementation of the policy proposals contained in the document A Vision for Change and if necessary an extension of the time frame beyond 2016. • YFG calls on the Government to introduce SafeTALK as a mandatory training for all senior cycle second level students. • That a range of actions are taken across Government departments to tackle mental health for LGBT young people. • YFG proposes that a specific, compulsory curriculum on mental health be included as part of the S.P.H.E course at both junior and senior cycles. (Social Personal and Health Education) • YFG recommends that all schools be required to have a counselling service available to students free of charge in their schools. • YFG proposes that specific sections of primary and secondary school curriculums are dedicated to the issue of cyberbullying. • YFG calls for all second level schools to allow for an option of restorative justice in cases of bullying in schools. • YFG calls for the promotion of education in schools on the harmful impacts of drug and alcohol abuse. • YFG proposes that schools should be encouraged to get involved in projects where two generations can learn from each other • YFG Calls for greater integration between voluntary groups and government agencies in providing quality youth services in rural areas

Responsibility of the Media Background Recent events have shown that there is a lack of understanding in the reporting on mental health and suicide issues online and on traditional media. According to The Samaritans “research shows that inappropriate reporting of suicide may lead to imitative or ‘copycat’ behaviour. For example, if vulnerable groups, such as, people with mental health problems and impressionable young people, are provided with details about the method of suicide used, it can lead to more deaths using the same method.”2 While we must always balance the issue of Press Freedom versus Press Responsibility, we believe that certain actions are required by the press in Ireland to ensure that they are playing their role in society in fighting stigma and reporting on mental health issues.

Policy YFG urges the Press Council to develop guidelines on the reporting of mental health and suicide similar to those of the Samaritan Guidelines, which would be issued to members of the media, including reporters and editors and would be held to the same standard as the Press Council’s own Code of Practice.

Setting Up A Body Image Campaign to Target the Growing Incidence of Body Dissatisfaction and Increased Rate of Eating Disorders Background In the UK, the Government set up an all-party parliamentary group to examine the issues surrounding body image. This action was taken in response to the fact that there are 1.6million people in the UK suffering from eating disorders. Furthermore, those suffering from eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. In Ireland, it is estimated that 200,000 people suffer from an eating disorder. The All Party Parliamentary Group carried out a report which found that over half of the British public suffer from negative body image. The problem appears to be so severe that girls as young as five now worry about their size and appearance, half of girls and one quarter of boys believe their peers have body image problems, and appearance is the largest cause of bullying in schools. An inquiry was held which established the following: • By the age of 14, half of girls and one third of boys have been on a diet to change their body shape • Girls who diet are 12 times more likely to binge eat • One in three men would sacrifice a year of life to achieve their ideal body • More than 95% of dieters regain the weight they lost • One in five people have been victimised because of their weight. 2 Media Guidelines for Reporting Suicide, Irish Association of Suicidology and Samaritans, 2013

Promoting Positive Mental Health The inquiry also heard that getting rid of dieting could wipe out 70% of eating disorders. They found that media (43.5%), advertising (16.8%) and celebrity culture (12.5%) together account for almost three quarters of the influence on body image in society, yet the “body ideal” that they typically present was estimated to not be physically achievable by nearly 95% of the population. Additionally, feelings of dissatisfaction and inadequacy, often driven by weight stigmatisation and the desire to achieve the unattainable “body ideal” cause many people to sacrifice health for appearance. The report makes a series of recommendations targeted at policy-makers, healthcare professionals, industry and the education sector, and is designed to change public perceptions, attitudes and behavioural patterns.

The report recommends • Working with industry (media, retail, advertising, fitness, fashion and beauty) to represent and celebrate more diverse and realistic images of men, women and children • A review of broadcast and editorial codes on reporting body-related issues • A review of the evidence base to support the long term efficacy and safety of diets • Support for new mothers and for primary and secondary school pupils • Launching a teaching pack for schools and parents to help children and adolescents understand how images in the media and advertising are altered and do not reflect real life or real bodies. The British Government’s response to the report was to set up the successful ‘Campaign for Body Confidence’. YFG believes that the Irish Government has a responsibility to act now to bring about the attitudinal and behavioural change that’s necessary to prevent further damage.

Policy YFG Recommends • Setting up a campaign for body confidence in Ireland. • Liaising with the British Government on their campaign due to the high level of British media (TV, Magazines etc.) consumed by the Irish public. • Encouraging the European Union to set up a body confidence campaign across Europe. • We recommend, in order to change the culture of ‘only thin is beautiful’, that Government intervention is needed to urge magazines to stop promoting fad diets, change advertising codes so that advertisers need to be honest about the extent to which they digitally alter images, school lessons to deal with body image issues and training in media literacy to be able to think critically about images.

Increased Focus on Community Mental Health Services Background In Ireland, current mental health provision focuses largely on medical services with much less emphasis being put on resolving social and economic supports that are necessary to maintain recovery. There is an over-reliance on in-patient care and medication-based treatment for those with mental health difficulties. In addition many areas of the country do not have easy access to these services. Mental health wellbeing and early

intervention programs are not sufficiently endorsed by policy in this area. We believe there is an over-reliance on psychiatric care.3 Community mental health services, on the other hand, support or treat people with poor mental health in a domiciliary setting, as opposed to psychiatric hospital. In a community based mental health service, the community becomes the primary provider of mental health services. This community mental health service would have a focus that is broader than outpatient treatment. These services may vary from supported and supervised housing, to community mental health centres, to self-help groups. They may be provided by governments, volunteer groups, of private/charitable organisations. The World Health Organisation claims that community mental health services reduce social exclusion, provide more accessible services and do not have the same risk of neglect that may occur in psychiatric hospitals.4 The policy document A Vision for Change, which was adopted by the Irish government in 2006, outlined how the in-patient focused nature of Irish mental health service provision could be replaced by a more holistic, multidisciplinary system with emphasis on community supports and person-centred treatment.5 Unfortunately implementation of this document has been slow due to a lack of funding, leadership and creativity on the part of the HSE and political leaders.

Recommendation YFG calls for the full implementation of the policy proposals contained in the document A Vision for Change and if necessary an extension of the time frame beyond 2016. This would lead to an overhaul and an improvement in mental healthcare provision in Ireland.

Training People to Respond To Suicidal Thoughts and Ideation through SafeTALK & ASIST Background The rate of suicide in Ireland has increased significantly in the past number of years. Ireland ranks fourth highest in the EU for deaths by suicide for 5-24 yr olds, at 13.9 per 100,000 population1. There were 495 deaths by suicide in Ireland in 2010, representing a rate of 10.9 per 100,000 population1. 405 (82%) of these were men1. This gender differentiation is a constant feature of the deaths by suicide over the last decade. Furthermore, suicide is one of the leading causes of death amongst young people. We believe suicide is largely preventable when the right help is given. In order for this to happen, as many people as possible need to be trained to recognise when people at risk of suicide signal their distress and invite help, and be able to respond appropriately. SafeTALK is a half-day, suicide prevention programme run by the HSE for anyone over the age of 15. The course is aimed at anybody who is interested in acquiring the skills to identify people who are having suicidal thoughts, react to ‘invitations’, and be able to connect them to suicide first aid resources2. The primary aim is to create a community of ‘suicide alertness’. 3 http://www.mentalhealthreform.ie/home/mental-health-in-ireland/ 4 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2007/np25/en/ 5 http://www.irishpsychiatry.ie/Libraries/External_Events_Documents/vision_for_change_full_document.sflb.ashx

Promoting Positive Mental Health ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is a two day training programme run by the HSE which aims to equip the participant with the knowledge, ability and confidence to carry out a suicide first aid intervention3. We believe, if more people understood the signs exhibited by those with thoughts of suicide, this would empower individuals to respond effectively and help mobilise local communities to work together to reduce the rates of suicide. In addition to this, it would raise mental health awareness, reduce stigma and challenge societal attitudes.

Policy YFG recommends Making SafeTALK mandatory for all senior cycle second level students. Advertising and promotion of SafeTALK and ASIST training courses in communities to encourage awareness of the course and participation. Create mental health and suicide awareness campaigns providing basic tips on how to respond to invitations and signs (such as Stroke Action’s F.A.S.T Campaign).

References

LGBT Young People and Mental Health Background Research on mental health amongst Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) young people has shown that this community is particularly vulnerable to psychological distress, suicidal behaviour and selfharm related to their experience of minority stress. A systematic review of 28 studies shows that lesbian, gay and bisexual people and twice as likely to attempt suicide, 1.5 times higher risk of depression and anxiety disorders, and have a 1.5 times higher risk of alcohol or other substance dependence over 12 months.6 To combat this, a cross departmental approach is needed to ensure that LGBT young people get the full support they need to lead fulfilled lives.

Recommendations YFG proposes that Government departments interventions should not be based on the idea that all LGBT young people are victims or that they are inevitably ‘at risk’ of developing mental health difficulties. Rather policies must be focused carefully to the diverse experiences and concerns of LGBT young people As part of a cross Departmental strategy, the Department of Health should ensure that the needs of LGBT people are integrated into all health policies, particularly those pertaining to: • Mental health • Men’s health • Women’s health 6 ‘A systematic review of mental disorder, suicide, and deliberate self harm in lesbian, gay and bisexual people’, King et al (2008) http:// www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/8/70

• Suicide and self-harm • Alcohol and drug (mis)use • Health promotion • Sexual health The HSE should ensure that health and mental health services are provided in a way that is accessible and appropriate to LGBT people. All health agencies should ensure that they have a policy in relation to the care of LGBT people. LGBT-specific services, particularly those targeting young LGBT people need to be resourced to provide programmes aimed at transforming internalised homophobia and building individual strengths. Specific attention should be paid to the needs of transgender people within health policy. The Department of Health should develop a national policy on access to healthcare and standards of care for transgender people. The mental health and emotional needs of transgender people should be recognised within health and mental health policy. The Department of Social Protection should continue its work on the Gender Recognition Bill to ensure that people can be recognised in their identified gender. This will allow Transgendered young people to have role models and see that their identity will be recognised by the state. The Department of Education and Skills (DES) should ensure that Teacher education programmes offer courses that will assist both early and in-career educators in taking action to challenge heterosexism, homophobia and transphobia in their schools and classrooms. Such interventions should not comprise ‘one-off’ anti-homophobia lectures and workshops addressing LGBT issues, which are likely to further marginalise LGBT youth, but rather should be infused throughout teacher education programmes.7 As part of the reform of Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE), SPHE and Relationship Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) should provide far greater scope for the exploration of minority sexuality and gender identity. The DES and individual schools should take action on their obligation to ensure the safety of school environments for all students by ensuring that school bullying policies incorporate directives and guidelines that specifically recognise and address the problem of homophobic bullying in schools. The DES should provide a dedicated support service to schools and the education partners (e.g. Institute of Guidance Counsellors) on issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) should devise clear mechanisms to promote greater awareness of the needs and rights of LGBT young people. This may include developing an LGBT Strategy for the Youth sector, developing comprehensive training packages, holding a national conference on LGBT young people, and ensuring that all policy developed in the sector is inclusive of the needs of LGBT young people. The National Youth Strategy and the National Youth Participation Strategy should give full recognition to, and be fully inclusive of, LGBT young people. Just like teacher training all youth work training should offer comprehensive courses that raise awareness of the needs of LGBT youth and also help them to appropriately address and challenge heterosexism, homophobia and transphobia in the context of their work with young people. BelongTo currently support 22 LGBT Youth Groups across the state in counties Carlow, Cavan, Cork, 7 Macintosh, L. (2007) Does anyone have a Band-Aid? Anti-homophobia discourses and pedagogical impossibilities. Educational Studies, 41, 1, 33-43.

Promoting Positive Mental Health Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford. Further support is needed to develop more LGBT-specific youth services across the state. Such groups play an important role in helping LGBT young people to access knowledge and social support, make connections and develop confidence and self-esteem. They can also provide an appropriate setting in which to address mental health issues with young people. The Department of Justice and Equality should amend Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998 which permits certain religious, educational and medical institutions to take action deemed reasonably necessary to prevent an employee, or a prospective employee, from undermining the religious ethos of the institution. This has particular relevance to LGBT personnel working in, or seeking employment in, schools as it means that many who might otherwise serve as role models for LGBT youth may feel obliged to hide their sexual orientation or gender identity in these settings.

Increased Focus on Mental Health in the SPHE Program Background The current SPHE curriculum, which is part of the second level curriculum, educates students about mental health issues, and awareness of mental health issues. YFG recognises that approaches to ensuring good mental health and recognising signs of poor mental health are present indirectly in almost every aspect of the SPHE curriculum. At junior cycle level, mental health forms part of the emotional health area of the course covered in first year.8 At senior cycle level, mental health is one of the five areas of learning around which the SPHE curriculum is structured.9 From our personal experiences, the deliverance of the SPHE curriculum varies across schools. As a result, there is not a consistent approach to this aspect of the education programme.

Policy To ensure that maximum emphasis is placed on the crucial area of mental health within the SPHE program, it is important that there is a consistent approach across schools in the teaching of certain aspects of this curriculum. This classroom based approach compliments the Department of Education and Skills’ own recommendations to schools regarding the promotion of good mental health within the educational environment.10

Recommendation YFG calls for specific teaching on mental health to become a compulsory part of the SPHE course at both junior and senior cycles. This curriculum reform should be accompanied by the continued implementation of measures to promote positive mental health in schools as recommended by the Department of Education and Skills. 8 http://www.sphe.ie/downloads/RESOURCES/SPHE%20JUNIOR%20CYCLE%20SYLLABUS.pdf 9 http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/Post-Primary_Education/Senior_Cycle/SPHE_framework/SPHE_Framework.pdf 10 http://www.nosp.ie/Well_Being_PP_Schools_Guidelines.pdf

Counselling in Secondary Schools and Mental Wellbeing Background Findings from research by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) from 2013 show one in five young Irish people aged 19-24 and one in six young people aged 11-13 are experiencing mental disorders.11 Universities and colleges throughout the country offer counselling services to students suffering with mental illness. With more and more teenagers and young people experiencing mental issues, it makes practical sense that some similar type of support service be offered to young people experiencing mental difficulties in Irish secondary schools.Â

Recommendations YFG recommends that all schools be required to have a counselling service available to students free of charge in their schools. Students under this system would be allowed to make an appointment confidentially to their school counsellor and have regular sessions if necessary. The role of the school counsellor may be fulfilled by the school guidance counsellor if they are also qualified in the area of psychotherapy. YFG also suggests that teachers should be given additional training to deal with issues of mental illness that their students may be facing.

Cyberbullying in Schools Background In recent times studies have shown that the amount of training that teachers, even those recently qualified, are receiving is insufficient to deal with cyberbullying. A study by Caroline Wheeler, researcher at Trinity College Dublin has found that two thirds of teachers found their level of training inadequate to cope with such situations.12 This problem is given added weight, as an EU study has shown that Irish youngsters are the most likely in Europe to encounter some form of cyberbullying.13 One in four girls and one in six boys have either been the bully or the victim of an incidence of cyberbullying according to a study.14 The problem does not affect teenagers alone, despite minimum age requirements on many websites. A study by Irish anti-bullying service Bully 4U found that 85% of nine to 12-year-olds are using social networking site Facebook, and 35% are using Twitter.15 With this problem affecting so many young people both teenagers and young children alike greater attention needs to be given to this issue in both the primary and secondary level education.

Recommendation YFG recommends that specific sections of primary and secondary school curriculums are dedicated to the teaching of cyberbullying. We suggest that this curriculum cover the following topics: 11 h ttp://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/mental-health/irish-youth-may-have-higher-rates-of-mental-disorder-than-othercountries-29649882.html 12 http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/teachers-lack-training-to-combat-cyberbullies-249052.html 13 http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/teach-anti-cyberbullying-in-schools-report-recommends-633004.html 14 http://www.irishcentral.com/news/one-in-four-girls-affected-by-cyberbullying-according-to-new-trinity-study-146640875-237440441.html# 15 http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/teachers-lack-training-to-combat-cyberbullies-249052.html

Promoting Positive Mental Health • How students can recognise cyberbullying either against themselves or another individual • The consequences and effects of cyberbullying may have on a particular individual • How students can report cyberbulliyng Furthermore YFG recommends that teachers should receive additional training on the issue of cyberbullying to become more adept at dealing with the issue.

Using Restorative Justice as a Way of Successfully Dealing with Cases of Bullying Background From our experiences, the most common punishment for serious and persistent bullying at second level is expulsion. This can often escalate the problem of bullying and allows in no way for the situation to be properly resolved nor does it show the person responsible for the bullying what he or she did wrong. Restorative justice approaches the incident of misbehaviour as an educative opportunity for repairing the harm, by adapting more socially responsible relationships and behaviours that takes the thoughts and feelings of others into account. This is achieved through carefully structured opportunities for individuals to understand the impact of their actions, recognise their social responsibilities and make amends to those who have been affected. A change in behaviour can be brought about by developing a sense of shared concern for the bullied person. The use of restorative justice can put a full stop to bullying by showing the perpetrator how his or her actions are affecting others. Restorative justice can be used to successfully end an episode of bullying by an individual or group, by showing those responsible the consequences of their actions and helping them to understand what they did was wrong. Taking a restorative justice approaches require the following factors to be in place first: 1. Support for the victimised person, who needs to have identified that he/she is being bullied, and is confident that the approach advocated will work. 2. Preliminary investigation to clearly understand the issues before the process is implemented. 3. Staff guidelines and professional development to build understanding, skills and confidence in using the strategies. 4. Agreement from all parties that the goal is to solve the problem, rather than to interrogate, punish, blame or label individuals. 5. Respectful facilitation of the process by trained people.

Recommendation Young Fine Gael calls for all second level schools to allow for an option of restorative justice in cases of bullying in schools.

P.E. in Schools Background In recent times childhood obesity has become a major national health issue. Statistics show that more than 300,000 children in Ireland are considered to be obese, and this figure is projected to increase by around 10,000 annually16 if the problem is not tackled effectively. It is widely recommended that children should participate in at least 60 minutes a day of moderate physical activity to avoid excessive weight gain.17 Primary schools have a role to play in this process. However, teachers in Irish primary schools spend less time teaching PE, in both absolute and proportionate terms, than any other European country, according to a study by the EUs education information network Eurydice.18 Irish primary school students have around 37 hours of classes during the school year.19 This is in comparison to other countries, which demand on average 45 hours a year.20 This can have an impact upon mental health as well as, or in addition to, physical health. Research has shown obese children frequently suffer from self-blame, negative body image and depression related to societal stigmatisation.21 They can face rejection from their peers and suffer from low self-esteem as a result, which can have a negative impact upon academic performance and social functioning.22

Recommendations YFG proposes that Ireland increases the level of mandatory P.E. hours in primary schools in order to bring Ireland in line with the European average and to combat childhood obesity. YFG also calls for a greater emphasis on the quality of PE classes in both primary and secondary schools.

Education on Drug and Alcohol Use Background Ireland has among the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the world. According to Alcohol Action Ireland, 54% of drinkers between 18-75 were classified as harmful drinkers, equating to 1.35 million in Ireland; while 40% of the population admitted to binge drinking in the last 30 days, which is defined as consuming more than 6 standard drinks on one occasion, compared to 29% in the United Kingdom over the same period.23 Perhaps the most striking conclusion from this analysis was that 64.3% of drinkers between the ages of 18-24 admitted to drinking six or more standard drinks per occasion, a figure which rose to 38.1% for nine or more standard drinks. In contrast, 40% of the population between the ages of 25-34 consumed six or more standard drinks per occasion, a figure which dropped significantly for each increasing age group. 16 http://www.inmo.ie/Home/Index/7631/10154 17 http://www.inmo.ie/Home/Index/7631/10154 18 http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-least-time-pe-primary-schools-850343-Mar2013/ 19 http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-least-time-pe-primary-schools-850343-Mar2013/ 20 http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-least-time-pe-primary-schools-850343-Mar2013/ 21 http://www.inmo.ie/Home/Index/7631/10154 22 http://www.inmo.ie/Home/Index/7631/10154 23 http://alcoholireland.ie/download/reports/how_much_do_we_drink/Alcohol_Consumption_in_Ireland_2013_web_version.pdf

Promoting Positive Mental Health Similarly, there is a high level of drug usage in the general population in Ireland, particularly in the 15-34 age bracket, where 35% of those surveyed admitted to using illegal drugs at some stage in their life, while 28% stated they were currently taking drugs. Strikingly, Ireland has the highest rate of Heroin use in the European Union, while drug usage among young people is among the highest in the EU.24 Evidently, it is clear that there is a large scale problem of binge drinking among the Irish drinking population, and more particularly among young Irish drinkers. In rural areas, in particular, the harmful impacts of alcohol abuse tend to be understated by both parents and children. While rural parents also tend to believe that their children are less susceptible to drug abuse, which is not the case.25 Therefore, government policy should seek to address this problem, by educating children on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse from a young age.

Recommendation YFG calls for the promotion of education in schools on the harmful impacts of drug and alcohol abuse. This could be undertaken at the later stages of primary school in the same manner that sexual education is thought to 5th/6th class students.

Young People in Rural Ireland Background Many groups living in rural areas can, for a number of reasons, such as lack of access to transport or local amenities find themselves very isolated. A report from Pobal in 2010, noted how young people and older people were identified as most at risk of rural isolation, along with those with disabilities, travellers and various others.26 This report noted the lack of local facilities for young people living in rural areas, relative to those living.

Recommendation YFG proposes that schools should be encouraged to get involved in projects where two generations can learn from each other as a report into rural isolation in County Monaghan recommended. This could involve students teaching older people how to use a PC or a mobile phone, and older people could in turn teach students skills in areas such as crafts, sewing etc. This would enable older people to feel a greater sense of purpose within local communities, which had been identified as a problem, and would equip younger people with greater skills for the workplace and encourage community involvement.27 Additionally, YFG Calls for greater integration between voluntary groups and government agencies in providing quality youth services in rural areas. In many rural locations, the local pub is the only source of non-sporting social activity for young people. These services could be located in community halls, which are an underutilised presence in many local communities throughout the country.28 24 http://www.drugs.ie/resourcesfiles/reports/Report-on-The-Misuse-of-Alcohol-and-Other-Drugs.pdf 25 http://www.rrh.org.au/publishedarticles/article_print_1171.pdf 26 http://www.cwc.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Rural-Poverty-and-Social-Exclusion-on-the-Island-of-Ireland-%E2%80%93Challenges-Policies-and-Challenges.pdf 27 http://www.midl.ie/images/stories/pdfs/RuralIsolationReportMonaghanIntegratedDevelopment.pdf 28 http://www.schooldays.ie/articles/Transition-Year-Initiatives

APPENDIX • Setting Up A Body Image Campaign To Target The Growing Incidence Of Body Dissatisfaction And Increased Rate of Eating Disorders • http://www.campaignforbodyconfidence.com/#! • http://www.campaignforbodyconfidence.com/assets/filemanager/reflections-on-body-image.pdf • https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/creating-a-fairer-and-more-equal-society/supporting-pages/ body-confidence-campaign • https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/203405/130501_body_ confidence_progress_reportv03.pdf • Training People to Respond To Suicidal Thoughts and Ideation through SafeTALK & ASIST • http://www.nosp.ie/annual_report_2012.pdf • http://www.nosp.ie/safetalk.pdf • http://www.nosp.ie/asist_2014.pdf • Using Restorative Justice as a Way of Successfully Dealing with Cases of Bullying. • http://www.transformingconflict.org/

Fine Gael National Headquarters, 51 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2 Phone: 01 619 8444 Fax: 01 662 5046 Email: yfg@yfg.ie Web: www.yfg.ie