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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
The Sunday Independent's View: The Leaving Cert is the least of young people's worries
It may be worth asking whether having the eyes of the whole country fixed on them as they go through that rite of passage only adds to the pressure under which students are labouring right now. Worth asking even more is whether we would be better off as a society if half as much attention was paid to young people's struggles with mental health all year round as opposed to the Leaving Cert for those few weeks each June. A survey of young people published last week by the Irish Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) team at University College Galway made for predictably grim reading. It reported that almost 50pc of Irish children and teenagers between the ages of 10 and 17 report 'feeling low' at least once a week — a figure that has more than doubled since 1998. The outlook for girls is particularly concerning, with 57.6pc disclosing being regularly unhappy, compared to 35.2pc of boys. Data from HBSC teams around Europe tells the same story. Worryingly, nearly one in four of the young people surveyed suffer from headaches. Just under one in two experience sleep disturbances. That latter figure may have much to do with excessive screen time. The devices to which we all seem to be addicted, adults and children alike, devour our waking hours. By feeding us an unending diet of anger and negativity, they contribute to a vicious cycle of worsening mental health. The irony is that the main concern in previous decades used to centre on teenage drinking and drug abuse The younger a person gets a smartphone, the more likely they are to suffer from depression later on. The more they use them, the worse their mental health. From the climate crisis to the horrors of the war in Gaza, their minds are bombarded 24/7 with reasons to feel anxious. Not knowing if they will ever be able to afford to rent or buy their own home or earn enough to keep pace with the rising cost of living adds to that unease. The irony is that the main concern in previous decades used to centre on teenage drinking and drug abuse. As the HBSC report confirms, young people are now less likely than every previous generation to report being 'really drunk' at some point, down sharply from 33pc in 1998 to 17.8pc now. Chemical highs have merely been replaced by mental and emotional lows in a world that increasingly feels as if it is falling apart. Teenagers can be forgiven for thinking that the Leaving Cert is the least of their problems. Older generations used to envy the young. No more. Until their angst is properly recognised as a public crisis, the most vulnerable among them will continue to be left to struggle alone What can be done to ease this malaise is the real issue. Addressing the launch of the HBSC report via a pre-recorded video message last week, Fianna Fáil's Junior Public Health Minister Jennifer Murnane O'Connor acknowledged the pressures undermining children's well-being, and declared: 'We need to support equality and ensure that no young person is left behind.' ADVERTISEMENT Few would disagree with that fine, if slightly glib, sentiment. Making it happen is harder. As with housing, the mental challenges being experienced by young people need to be the focus of a resolute cross-departmental approach, encompassing every arm of government. Until their angst is properly recognised as a public crisis, the most vulnerable among them will continue to be left to struggle alone, long after the annual messages of solidarity as they sit the Leaving Cert have been forgotten.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
‘You're constantly compared to Instagram models': event told online content affecting teenagers' mental health
Being bombarded with bad news and 'constantly' compared to edited images of models online is having a negative impact on young people's mental health , in particular teenage girls, an event at the Department of Health was told on Tuesday. More than half of girls (57.6 per cent) and 35.2 per cent of boys reported feeling low on at least a weekly basis, according to a new report . The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey monitored the health behaviours and outcomes of young people every four years between 1998 and 2022. More than 70,500 children aged 10-17 have been surveyed as part of the research, including more than 8,000 people in 2022. In 2022, 15-year-olds in Ireland were below the international HBSC average for reporting high life satisfaction (a score of 7/10 or higher). Ireland ranked 44th out of 45 countries, with 43 countries reporting a higher percentage of high life satisfaction. READ MORE Speaking at the launch of the report, 15-year-old Anna Adler said that spending so much time online is having a detrimental impact on young people's mental health. 'I have witnessed first hand its effect on young people and myself,' she said, citing a common habit of 'waking up and grabbing your phone' and scrolling through a mix of content about climate change , politics and entertainment. [ Should parents be checking their teenagers' phones? Opens in new window ] The teenager said women in particular 'have always been scrutinised' but 'with the age of the internet, you get constantly compared to edited Instagram models'. 'It's only natural that everyone, and not just women, are going to feel negative about their appearances.' She said young people are 'falling victim' to online trends, with some girls as young as nine feeling pressured to buy skincare. Prof Colette Kelly, who co-led the research at the University of Galway, said the number of those reporting feeling low is 'definitely worrying'. The survey doesn't ask children why they feel low, noted Prof Kelly, but she said young people are consuming information about war, climate change and the cost-of-living crisis . They are also dealing with the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, she added. The report also found an increase in the number of children and teenagers feeling pressured by school work (up from 32.9 per cent to 47.8 per cent between 1998 and 2022), and increases in the number of children who reported experiencing headaches (up from 26 per cent to 38.2 per cent) and sleep disturbances (30.9 per cent up to 46.3 per cent). The research found the proportion of young people smoking, drinking and using cannabis had reduced in recent years. There has been a small decrease in the proportion of 15- to 17-year-olds who have had sex. One in five teenagers (19.6 per cent) who took part in the survey in 2022 said they had already engaged in sexual intercourse, compared with a quarter (25.5 per cent) in 2010. Of those who reported having sex, there was a decrease in the proportion who reported using a condom the last time they had sex. In 2010, 78 per cent said they used a condom, compared with 55.2 per cent in 2022. [ Opinion: Social media has a limited effect on teenage mental health Opens in new window ] Older teenagers were asked certain questions about their sexual habits as part of the research. The authors of the Irish study have noted that the data in the most recent report relates to condom use only and not that of other contraceptives. The figures in the 2022 report were collected in the first half of that year, before the launch of the Free Contraception Scheme, for which 17-year-olds are eligible. The HBSC is an international study carried out in 51 participating countries and regions in collaboration with the World Health Organisation.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Almost 50% of children and teenagers struggling with ‘feeling low'
There has been a large increase in the proportion of children in the Republic who report feeling low at least every week, according to fresh research. A report published on Tuesday found that almost half of children and teenagers (46.3 per cent) reported 'feeling low' on at least a weekly basis in 2022, up from 23 per cent in 1998. Girls were more likely to report feeling low than boys: 57.6 per cent compared with 35.2 per cent. The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey monitored the health behaviours and outcomes of young people every four years between 1998 and 2022. Those surveyed ranged in age from 10 to 17. READ MORE The report found a decrease in the proportion of young people happy with life at present (down from 88.1 per cent to 78.5 per cent) and in those reporting a high level of life satisfaction (down from 76 per cent to 61.6 per cent). The latest report also found an increase in the number of children and teens feeling pressured by school work (up from 32.9 per cent to 47.8 per cent), and increases in the number of children who reported experiencing headaches (up from 26 per cent to 38.2 per cent) and sleep disturbances (30.9 per cent up to 46.3 per cent). There was a small increase in the proportion of those who reported going to school or bed hungry because there was not enough food at home: up from 16.6 per cent in 2002 to 18.3 per cent in 2022. Prof Colette Kelly, who co-led the research at the University of Galway , said the number of those reporting feeling low is 'definitely worrying'. The survey doesn't ask children why they feel low, noted Prof Kelly, but she said young people are consuming information about war, climate change and the cost-of-living crisis. They are also dealing with the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, she added. There was a small increase in the proportion of those who reported being bullied at school once or more in the past couple of months: up from 24.6 per cent in 1998 to 28.6 per cent in 2022. The number of girls who reported being bullied increased from 19.6 per cent to 29.5 per cent during the same period, while the number of boys who reported being bullied decreased slightly from 29.2 per cent to 27.7 per cent. The proportions of young people smoking, drinking and using cannabis have reduced significantly in recent years. The number of children who reported ever being 'really drunk' decreased from 33 per cent in 1998 to 17.8 per cent in 2022. There was also a moderate reduction in the proportion of children and teenagers who reported cannabis use in the last 12 months: down from 12.3 per cent in 1998 to 6.5 per cent in 2022. The research also found that smoking rates reduced from 22.6 per cent to 4.7 per cent in the same period. Minister of State for Public Health Jennifer Murnane O'Connor was not present at the launch but spoke via a pre-recorded video message. 'The good news is that we are seeing a significant long-term decline in the use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis in young people. Compared to 1998, today's young people are less likely to smoke, drink regularly or experiment with drugs,' said Ms Murnane O'Connor. The junior minister added that the report highlights ongoing challenges, particularly in mental health and social inequality. 'Many adolescents continue to report pressure at school, bullying, sleep difficulties, and going to bed hungry. While substance use is declining, disparities remain, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds or marginalised communities,' she said. 'We need to support equality and ensure that no young person is left behind.'
RTÉ News
7 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Number of schoolchildren feeling low doubles over 25 years
Fewer Irish children are reporting high life satisfaction and feeling happy with their lives, compared to a study measuring the same indicators among their counterparts in 1998. The proportion of school-going children who said they regularly feel low (46.3%) has doubled over a period of 25 years. The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Trends Report 1998-2022 revealed that the youth of today also feel more pressured by schoolwork compared to in 1998. The report was led by researcher Louise Lunney in collaboration with the HBSC research team at the Health Promotion Research Centre at University of Galway. The HBSC survey is carried out every four years in collaboration with the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. In 2022, 45 countries and regions participated. In Ireland, the report brings together data from over 70,000 children on their health behaviours, health outcomes and the social contexts of children's lives. Some of the key changes over the 25 years include: The proportions of children smoking, drinking and using cannabis have reduced very significantly. Smoking rates reduced from 23% to 5%, the numbers reporting ever being really drunk reduced from 33% to 18%, and cannabis use in the previous 12 months reduced from 12% to 7%. There has been an increase in the number of children consuming fruit daily from 18% to 25%, while daily soft drink consumption has reduced from 37% to 7%. There was an increase in the number of children feeling able to talk to their mother and father about things that bother them – mother from 73% to 82%, and father from 47% to 70%. The number of children reporting that they had good places to socialise locally has risen from 45% to 63%. There were also significant increases in the proportions of children using seatbelts from 41% to 81% and regularly brushing their teeth from 58% to 73%. However, the report revealed that despite an overall decline in reported sexual activity, with the proportion of 15-17-year-olds reporting ever having sex has fallen from 26% to 20%. Fewer young people - 55.2% in 2022, down from 78.0% in 2010 - report using a condom during last sexual intercourse. Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, said the results are used to inform policy development. "It is particularly encouraging to see improvements in areas such as reduced smoking, alcohol use and cannabis use. We continue to develop robust policies to further protect young people from these harms. "Under our Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act we banned the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, a measure which aims to reduce young people's use of these products and ultimately to further reduce smoking rates," said Ms Murnane O'Connor. "Collectively, these policies provide a strong foundation upon which families, schools and communities can work together to create healthier environments in which our young people can thrive." The HBSC mental health-related results showed decreases in the number of children reporting bullying others from 22% to 13%, while the number reporting being bullied has increased from 25% to 29%. There were also increases in the number of children reporting experiencing headaches and sleep disturbances. And a decrease in the proportion of children being happy with life at present from 88% to 79% and high life satisfaction, from 76% to 62%, with an increase in those reporting feeling low on a weekly basis from 23% to 46%. Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Ellen Crushell said: "Overall, the HBSC report shows welcome increases in the proportions of young people engaging in healthy behaviours, creating a generational improvement that will impact on overall population health. The mental health budget has been increasing year on year, reaching just under €1.5 billion in 2025." Meanwhile, Principal Investigator of HBSC Ireland at the University of Galway, Professor Saoirse Nic Gabhainn said: "A study like HBSC, that tracks trends in health behaviours, outcomes and social context of children's lives over such a long period is a huge resource to anyone interested in children's lives." Ms Nic Gabhainn added that while many indicators have improved over time, the pressures that children feel from school and society are increasing. "Now is the time for our society to support teachers and parents in schools and communities to protect and promote youth well-being."
RTÉ News
7 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Number of children feeling 'low' doubles over 25 years
Fewer Irish children are reporting high life satisfaction and feeling happy with their lives, compared to a study measuring the same indicators among their counterparts in 1998. The proportion of school-going children who said they regularly feel low (46.3%) has doubled over a period of 25 years. The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Trends Report 1998-2022 revealed that the youth of today also feel more pressured by schoolwork compared to in 1998. The report was led by researcher Louise Lunney in collaboration with the HBSC research team at the Health Promotion Research Centre at University of Galway. The HBSC survey is carried out every four years in collaboration with the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. In 2022, 45 countries and regions participated. In Ireland, the report brings together data from over 70,000 children on their health behaviours, health outcomes and the social contexts of children's lives. Some of the key changes over the 25 years include: The proportions of children smoking, drinking and using cannabis have reduced very significantly. Smoking rates reduced from 23% to 5%, the numbers reporting ever being really drunk reduced from 33% to 18%, and cannabis use in the previous 12 months reduced from 12% to 7%. There has been an increase in the number of children consuming fruit daily from 18% to 25%, while daily soft drink consumption has reduced from 37% to 7%. There was an increase in the number of children feeling able to talk to their mother and father about things that bother them – mother from 73% to 82%, and father from 47% to 70%. The number of children reporting that they had good places to socialise locally has risen from 45% to 63%. There were also significant increases in the proportions of children using seatbelts from 41% to 81% and regularly brushing their teeth from 58% to 73%. However, the report revealed that despite an overall decline in reported sexual activity, with the proportion of 15-17-year-olds reporting ever having sex has fallen from 26% to 20%. Fewer young people - 55.2% in 2022, down from 78.0% in 2010 - report using a condom during last sexual intercourse. Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, said the results are used to inform policy development. "It is particularly encouraging to see improvements in areas such as reduced smoking, alcohol use and cannabis use. We continue to develop robust policies to further protect young people from these harms. "Under our Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act we banned the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, a measure which aims to reduce young people's use of these products and ultimately to further reduce smoking rates," said Ms Murnane O'Connor. "Collectively, these policies provide a strong foundation upon which families, schools and communities can work together to create healthier environments in which our young people can thrive." The HBSC mental health-related results showed decreases in the number of children reporting bullying others from 22% to 13%, while the number reporting being bullied has increased from 25% to 29%. There were also increases in the number of children reporting experiencing headaches and sleep disturbances. And a decrease in the proportion of children being happy with life at present from 88% to 79% and high life satisfaction, from 76% to 62%, with an increase in those reporting feeling low on a weekly basis from 23% to 46%. Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Ellen Crushell said: "Overall, the HBSC report shows welcome increases in the proportions of young people engaging in healthy behaviours, creating a generational improvement that will impact on overall population health. The mental health budget has been increasing year on year, reaching just under €1.5 billion in 2025." Meanwhile, Principal Investigator of HBSC Ireland at the University of Galway, Professor Saoirse Nic Gabhainn said: "A study like HBSC, that tracks trends in health behaviours, outcomes and social context of children's lives over such a long period is a huge resource to anyone interested in children's lives." Ms Nic Gabhainn added that while many indicators have improved over time, the pressures that children feel from school and society are increasing. "Now is the time for our society to support teachers and parents in schools and communities to protect and promote youth well-being."
