Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he has studied the issue of depression in young persons with particular reference to identifying early alert and subsequent support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43161/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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My Department collects information on the issue of depression in children through the Growing Up in Ireland Study.

Growing Up in Ireland, The National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland is a study which is wholly sponsored by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Since 2007 the study has followed the progress of two groups of children: 8,000 9-year-olds and 10,000 9-month-olds across Ireland to collect a host of information to help improve our understanding of all aspects of children and their development.

The Growing Up in Ireland Study has investigated depression and mood in the older child cohort and as the infant cohort ages, similar questions will be introduced.

The 13 year old wave of data collection included a ‘Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire’ (not a clinical measure of depression) and a Children’s Self-Concept Scale for measuring the child’s self-esteem. The study found ‘low mood’ to be substantially associated with relationships with family, school and peers. ‘Low mood’ was strongly related to all aspects of self-esteem.

These findings are summarised in the Growing Up in Ireland report: ‘The Lives of 13-year-olds: Their Relationships, Feelings and Behaviours’. This report is available on the Growing Up in Ireland website.

Phase Two of Growing Up in Ireland has recently commenced, with data being collected from 17 year olds. This includes a range of questions regarding mental health. One such question in the questionnaire asks specifically on how many days over the past week did the respondent feel depressed.

Growing Up in Ireland is compliant with the Statistics Act, and so participant’s anonymity is maintained and this data is used for statistical purposes only. It is not used as an early-alert support. However if completing the questionnaire brings issues to the surface a young person they will be provided with information about where they can seek help.

Growing Up in Ireland data is open to the public. Requests can be made through the Irish Social Science Data Archive in UCD, or through my Department.

With reference to early alert and subsequent support, this falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Health.

In the first instance, any parent who suspects his/her child may be suffering from mental health problems should bring their child to their local GP who will in turn refer the child to the appropriate Mental Health Services, Primary Care or approved Child and Adult team.

The HSE Mental Health Division supports timely access to appropriate services to address the mental health needs of all children from a preventative care model and early intervention perspective. It should be noted, however, that mental health problems are not the sole remit of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Depending on the nature and severity the health need, services may be provided by the Childcare services, at Primary Care or at CAMHS level.

The HSE recently adopted a Standard Operating Procedure for both in-patient and community based CAMHS. This should help to ensure that services are delivered consistently and transparently. Most importantly, it will help to ensure that the care and treatment offered reflects the identified clinical needs of the child.