Dr Jennifer McMahon, Univeristy Limerick, Psychology Matters Day Mental health is everyone’s business and young people are most at risk of psychological distress and mental disorder. What we term the age of onset of mental health disorder, the years when disorders first emerge, is between 14 and 24. What is key is that mental health problems are treatable and the first step to treatment is seeking out help. Help-seeking is lower in Ireland than in other European countries due to mental health stigma. Best practice is to use peer support and connect young people with one another. In this talk, different ways of connecting with others are outlined, strategies to promote positive mental health are provided and normalising mental health is discussed.

1. Promoting Youth
mental Health
Dr. Jennifer McMahon
University of Limerick

2. Teenage Storm and Stress
• Mood Disruptions
• Risky Behaviour
• Emotions
• New Media
• Self-Control
• Relationships

3. The Teenage Brain
Blakemore, S. J. (2008). The social brain in adolescence. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9(4), 267.

5. Erikson, E. H. (1994). Identity: Youth and crisis (No. 7). WW Norton & Company.

6. Self Concept
Pick up
dress from
Amy
Rosenberg, M. (1985). Self-concept and psychological well-being in adolescence. The development of the self, 205-246.

7. Adolescent Self-Concept
Self Concept Domains Examples of Adolescent Self
Descriptions
Scholastic Achievement I do school work quickly. I do well in
school
Intellectual Ability I’m just as smart as other people
Athletic Competence I am good at new sports
Behavioural Conduct I don’t get into trouble. I act the way I’m
supposed to act
Close friendships I share things with my close friends
Romantic Appeal I believe that I am fun and interesting
Job Competence I have the skills to succeed at part-time
jobs
Physical Appearance I like the way I look

8. What is Mental Health?
Mental Health refers to a broad array of activities directly or indirectly related to the
mental well-being component included in the WHO's definition of health:
– "A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely
the absence of disease". It is related to the promotion of well-being, the
prevention of mental disorders, and the treatment and rehabilitation of
people affected by mental disorders.
Good
Poor

9. What is Youth mental
Health?
Young persons definition:
“If youth is a journey, then youth mental health is
the feeling that the road ahead is clear, that you
can negotiate whatever obstacles may arise, and
you’re on your way towards a definite
destination. That destination may change
umpteen times by the age of 22 or 23, but the
point is that you know you’re going somewhere.”
Tim (Youth Advisor – Headstrong)
The WHO (2005, p.7) defines adolescent mental
health as:
“… the capacity to achieve and maintain optimal
psychological functioning and well-being.
Picture copyright of Jigsw

10. Incident YLD rates per 1,000 population by age and broad disease grouping Victoria, 2001.
The overall per capita burden from non-fatal disease and injury increases with age, with peaks in
childhood and early adulthood (figure). Mental disorders are by far the most important cause of
disability for 20–50 year olds and account for the majority of the non-fatal burden in early
adulthood, after which the contribution of this group of conditions decreases.
Almost 75% of all mental disorders first emerge between the ages of 15 and 25 (Hickie, 2004;
Kessler et al, 2005; Kim-Cohen et al, 2003).

11. Depression
©Headstrong, 2012
Anxiety
Stress

12. Supporting Positive Mental
Health
Parents
✓ Open and Honest
✓ Be Authoritative – clear about standards
✓ Assure them you will always support them
✓ Be sensitive & monitor but NEVER invade
✓ Take Active Roles in the lives of young people
✓ Have a sense of humour
✓ Don’t talk down to them
✓ Initiate conversation – be proactive
✓ Research indicates that having ‘one good adult’ (My
World, 2012) to open up to can be a significant
protective factor for young people
✓ for many this is a parent but it can also be any adult that
takes a supportive role in the young persons life e.g.
teacher, uncle, sports coach etc..

13. Good Adults
In research participants felt that
good adults:
✓ respects you and demands
respect;
✓ is trustworthy;
✓ is understanding and
reasonable;
✓ needs to see them as capable of
making good choices
Supporting Positive Mental
Health
Adapted from ‘What Helps/
Outcomes and Analysis
report by the DYCA, 2009

14. Risk & Protection
Youth Mental Health

15. Increasing
positive
emotions
• Expressive
Writing
• Gratitude
• Flow
• Character
Strengths

16. Take Home Message

17. Thoughts & Questions?
@jennytalkspsych Jennifer.mcmahon@ul.ie

18. Support Services
• Pieta House
• Jigsaw
• Spun Out.ie
• CAMHS/HSE