Conference Programme

People and Mental Health in a Changing World

A Cross Border Conference

15th

Annual Mental Health Conference Saturday 27

th October 2018

Ulster University, Institute of Nursing & Health Research, School of Nursing, Magee Campus, Northland Road, Derry-Londonderry, BT487JL

A project supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the

Special EU Programmes Body

Contents

Welcome Letter 1

Mental Health Foundation Statistics 3

General Information 4

Conference Programme 5

Keynote Presenters 6

CAWT’s EU INTERREG VA Innovation

Recovery Project Overview

11

CAWT’s EU INTERREG VA MACE Project

Overview

13

Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) 15

Institute of Mental Health Sciences (IMHS)

Research Presentation Awards 2018

16

Exhibition 17

Mental Health Awareness Poster Competition 18

Notes 19

1

Welcome Letter

Welcome to the fifteenth annual Mental Health Conference to be held at the Magee

campus. In line with the World Health Organizations International ‘World Health Day’ 2018

we hope to embrace the theme of ‘Young People and Mental Health in a Changing

world.’ This conference is in collaboration with the Co-operation and Working Together

(CAWT) cross border health and social care partnership. The CAWT Partnership

comprises the Western and Southern Health and Social Care Trusts, the NI Health and

Social Care Board/Public Health Agency and the Health Service Executive (HSE) in the

Republic of Ireland. The focus of the conference is on raising awareness of mental health

issues among young people and on mobilising efforts in support of young people and

mental health in a changing world.

In Northern Ireland more than 20% of young people are suffering significant mental health

problems by the time they reach 18 (DHSSPS, 2010; Khan, 2016). Across the border in

the Republic, Child and Adult Mental Health Services are struggling to cope with high

levels of demands for services for young people. Living with mental health conditions can

profoundly affect millions of lives, limiting the capability of these individuals to make it

through the day, to sustain relationships, and to maintain work. Imagine growing up in our

world today. Constantly battling the effects of human rights violations, wars and violence

often taking place in the home, school and business. Many young people are spending

most of their day on the internet – experiencing cyber crimes, cyber bullying, and playing

violent video games. Suicide and substance abuse numbers have been steadily rising,

LGBTQ youth are feeling alone and persecuted for being true to themselves and young

adults are at the age when serious mental illnesses can occur and yet they are taught little

to nothing about mental illness and wellbeing. It is vital that we give young people access

to the support they need to grow up happy, healthy and resilient.

Our aspirations within this conference are to look at the wealth of experience and

knowledge gained through the exchange of information with our colleagues from both

sides of the border across a wide network of disciplines working within our schools and

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communities, business and commerce. Both statutory and voluntary services actively

endorse holistic health and well-being and we wish to give them the platform to share their

experiences. We hope you find this conference enjoyable and become inspired from ideas

within the presentations which you can use to develop your knowledge and skills in

pushing the boundaries of recovery in mental health. We trust that this conference will

generate within us all an excitement to create positive mental health and well-being. We

want you to return home with encouragement, enthusiasm and energy.

Conference organisers would acknowledge the funding support secured by CAWT from the

EU’s INTERREG VA Programme which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

We would also like to thank you for your support for this event.

With our best wishes

____________________

Marie O’Neill

____________________

Edel O’Doherty

____________________

Dr Kevin Moore

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Young People and Mental Health in a changing world

Adolescence and the early years of adulthood are a time of life when many changes occur, for

example changing schools, leaving home, and starting university or a new job. For many, these

are exciting times. They can also be times of stress and apprehension. However, in some

cases, if not recognized and managed, these feelings can lead to mental illness. The expanding

use of online technologies, while undoubtedly bringing many benefits, can also bring additional

pressures, as connectivity to virtual networks at any time of the day and night grows. Many

adolescents are also living in areas affected by humanitarian emergencies such as conflicts,

natural disasters and epidemics. Young people living in situations such as these are particularly

vulnerable to mental distress and illness.

Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14

Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14, but most cases go undetected and untreated.

In terms of the burden of the disease among adolescents, depression is the third leading cause.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds. Harmful use of alcohol

and illicit drugs among adolescents is a major issue in many countries and can lead to risky

behaviours such as unsafe sex or dangerous driving. Eating disorders are also of concern.

Growing recognition of the importance of building mental resilience

Fortunately, there is a growing recognition of the importance of helping young people build

mental resilience, from the earliest ages, in order to cope with the challenges of today’s world.

Evidence is growing that promoting and protecting adolescent health brings benefits not just to

adolescents’ health, both in the short and the long-term, but also to economies and society, with

healthy young adults able to make greater contributions to the workforce, their families and

communities and society as a whole.

Prevention begins with better understanding

Much can be done to help build mental resilience from an early age to help prevent mental

distress and illness among adolescents and young adults, and to manage and recover from

mental illness. Prevention begins with being aware of and understanding the early warning

signs and symptoms of mental illness. Parents and teachers can help build life skills of children

and adolescents to help them cope with everyday challenges at home and at school.

Psychosocial support can be provided in schools and other community settings and of course

training for health workers to enable them to detect and manage mental health disorders can be

put in place, improved or expanded.

Investment by governments and the involvement of the social, health and education sectors in

comprehensive, integrated, evidence-based programmes for the mental health of young people

is essential. This investment should be linked to programmes to raise awareness among

adolescents and young adults of ways to look after their mental health and to help peers,

parents and teachers know how to support their friends, children and students. This is the focus

for this year’s World Mental Health Day.

Mental Health Foundation Statistics

4

General Information

Conference enquiries

Please ask staff at the registration desk if you have any specific requirements regarding access,

lost property, dietary requirements, particularly relating to any allergies etc.

Badges

Participants should wear their badges at all times and will not be admitted to the conference

sessions without the appropriate badge.

Programme

Please refer to the programme for details of the times and locations of all conference sessions.

Staff will be on hand to direct you as necessary.

Exhibitions

There are multiple exhibitions running alongside the main conference event. A children’s

primary and secondary school Art exhibition is on display in the foyer. The conference

organisers which to express their sincere thanks to all exhibitors at this conference. We would

urge all delegates to show their support for all external exhibitors throughout the entire

conference.

The Exhibition will be open from 09.00 to 17.00.

Electronic Devices

Out of courtesy to others, delegates are requested to switch off or set to silent all electronic

devices during conference sessions.

Feedback

Please take a few minutes to evaluate the conference and give us your thoughts and

suggestions. Evaluation forms can be found in your conference pack.

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

5

Conference Programme Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World

A Cross Border Conference 15th Annual Mental Health Conference, Saturday 27th October 2018

08.00 Registration & Coffee

09.00

Opening Address

Mark H Durkan, MLA Foyle and Spokesperson for Health SDLP

09.25 Adolescent Substance Use & Mental Health

Dr Bobby Smyth, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist at Adolescent Addictions Service HSE and Clinical Senior Lecturer in Addictions (Public Health & Primary Care) Trinity College Dublin.

10.05 Anxiety, School Refusal, Depression and Self-Harm in Adolescence

Bronagh Starrs, BA Dip Psychotherapy MIAHIP, Founder & Director of Blackfort Adolescent Gestalt Institute

11.05 Tea & Coffee Conference Exhibition and Poster Viewing

11.35

Tackling Adversity in Childhood

Kieran Downey, Director of Women & Children’s Services & Executive Director of Social Work and Deputy Chief Executive, Western Health & Social Care Trust

11.55

Education for Resilience: A cross border approach to supporting people to take control over their Mental Health and Wellbeing

Edel O’Doherty, Deputy Chief Officer, CAWT & EU INTERREG VA Innovation Recovery Project Link

12.15

Platform Session 1: Emotional health and wellbeing in teens related to gender identity

Billie Hughes, Childrens’ Services Manager & Lead Nurse, CAMHS Belfast and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trusts

13.00 Lunch & Poster Viewing & Exhibitions

14.00

Young People and Emotional Well-being

Noella McConnellogue, ZEST

14.45

Platform Session 2: No Wrong Door

Sharon Ferguson, Peer Support Facilitator and colleagues from Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO1), Progressing Mental Health Services, Genio Service Reform Fund

15.30 Refreshments & Exhibition viewing

15.45

Understanding Suicide Prevention: the unifying human rights quest of our times

Fergus Cumiskey, CEO Contact NI

16.45 Conference Close

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Keynote Presenters

Adolescent Substance Use & Mental Health

Dr Bobby Smyth, MRCPsych PhD, Trinity College Dublin He is a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, who has acted as clinical lead across three adolescent addiction services in Dublin since 2003. He is a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Trinity College Dublin. He has been involved in research for 20 years and has published over 70 scientific papers. His PhD examined strategies to reduce the harms arising from substance use by youth. He is co-author of the book Adolescents and Substance Use: The handbook for professionals working with young people.

Anxiety, School Refusal, Depression and Self-Harm in Adolescence

Bronagh Starrs, Founder & Director of Blackfort Adolescent Gestalt Institute is Programme Director for the MSc Adolescent Psychotherapy in Dublin Counselling & Therapy Centre, in partnership with the University of Northampton, UK. She maintains a private practice in Omagh, Northern Ireland, as a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, writer, presenter and trainer, specialising in working with adolescents. In addition to her work as a parenting consultant with many families, schools and agencies, she is also an experienced therapist working with children, adults and groups. Bronagh is a renowned adolescent development specialist and has considerable experience teaching and presenting throughout Ireland and internationally on the developmental implication of trauma on the adolescent journey. Her approach to therapeutic intervention with adolescents is both innovative and deeply relational. She has authored numerous articles and chapters on the subject, and has contributed to the collected volume: Relational Child: Relational Brain (Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group/Gestalt Press). Bronagh’s new book Adolescent Psychotherapy: A Radical Relational Approach (Routledge) will be published in November 2018.

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Tackling Adversity in Childhood

Kieran Downey, Director of Women and Children’s Services, Western Health and Social Trust (WHSCT) Kieran has worked in the health service for 30 years. He initially trained as a teacher and subsequently qualified as a social worker. Kieran has worked in a variety of senior management posts before being appointed as Assistant Director of Children’s Mental Health and Disability Services with the Western Trust in April 2007. He was appointed Director of Women and Children’s Services and Executive Director of Social Work in September 2012. The Women and Children’s Directorate brings together a comprehensive range of acute and community services with an annual budget of £80 million. As well as all of the statutory Family and Child Care, Children’s Services, Kieran also has responsibility for Public Health, Maternity, Pediatric and Adult Safeguarding Services across the Trust. Kieran was instrumental in securing the first Charter Mark Award for Day Care services in Northern Ireland and was on the Expert Working Committee for the Bamford Review Group. He has most recently led on the development of the Western Trust Infant Mental Health Strategy (2011) which was the first strategic plan for infant mental health in Northern Ireland.

Education for Resilience: A cross border approach to supporting people to take control over their Mental Health and Wellbeing

Edel O’Doherty, Deputy Chief Officer, CAWT Edel has worked in the area of planning, development and implementation of cross border collaboration in health and social care for over 13 years. She has a wide range of interests and expertise including tackling health inequalities, mental health, improvement, primary care and community development. Edel is the executive lead on behalf of the CAWT Partnership on the EU INTERREG VA Innovation Recovery and mPower (PCOP) Projects. She is also supporting the CAWT Interoperability Group which seeks to align cross border transfer of patient information with the EU Interoperability Framework. Edel holds an MA in Marketing Management, a Post Grad Diploma in Health Promotion, Diploma in Workplace Health and Prince2 Practitioner Diploma.

8

Emotional health and wellbeing in teens related to gender identity

Billie Hughes, Childrens’ Services Manager & Lead Nurse, CAMHS Belfast and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trusts Billie Hughes is Lead nurse and Service manager for CAMHS in Belfast and South Eastern Trust areas. She also has lead responsibility for the regional CAMHS inpatient service, the Gender Identity service and the Family Trauma Centre. She has a keen interest in the health and wellbeing of children and families being prioritised and therefore has led on many service developments. She states that: “it is with great pride that I can state our CAMHS inpatient service is the first service in Northern Ireland to have a trauma informed model of care and a collective leadership framework.” She also provides direct clinical care across the HSC Trusts. To inform and develop her practice she took part in the sensory attachment integration training and the ‘Just Right State Programme.’ She also supported this training across CAMHs to increase the range of interventions that can provided with regard to relational and developmental trauma. She had been using the ‘Just Right State Programme’ locally for a year.

No Wrong Door

Sharon Ferguson, Peer Support Facilitator Sharon is a Peer Support Facilitator with a specialism in community development. Sharon has worked as a member of the service reform team for over a year. Sharon is a trained counsellor with many years’ experience in the community and voluntary sector.

9

Young People and Emotional Well-being

Noella McConnellogue, Director of Clinical Services, Zest Healing the Hurt (a Counselling Organisation specialising in self-harm and suicide). Noella has 25 years’ experience working in the therapeutic field. Since 2000 she been employed by Zest and specialises in working with young people and adults who self-harm or have attempted suicide, together with providing support for individuals and families affected by the impact of self-harm and suicide throughout the Western and Northern HSC Trust areas. Noella represented the Voluntary and Community Sector as Co-Chair of the Western Suicide Strategy Implementation Group. Noella was employed by the Bloody Sunday Trust to develop, manage and deliver counselling/support services during the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. In addition, she worked for 5 years in Dublin as a psychotherapist in a residential setting, working with adults of early childhood trauma. Prior to working in the therapeutic field, Noella has 20 years’ experience in youth work alongside her experience of working in local government. Noella graduated from University of Ulster, Magee with BSc (Hons) in Psychology, Dip in Social and Behavioural Science. Noella continued her studies and training to obtain a P/Grad. CBT. Advanced. Dip in Integrative Humanistic Counselling, Dip. Professional Counselling; Diploma in CBT and Cert. Childhood Trauma. She also lectured on the UU Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling at the NWRC. Noella is an EMDR Practitioner, Clinical Supervisor and holds membership of the following Professional Bodies: MBACP; BPS; IPS; UKCP; EMDR UK & IRELAND

10

Understanding Suicide Prevention: the unifying human rights quest of our times

Fergus Cumiskey, CEO Contact NI Fergus Cumiskey, CEO Contact NI, pioneered Lifeline, the unique Assembly funded regional crisis suicide prevention helpline (2006-18). Fergus sets out his stall for lessons learned from 12 years of the North’s suicide prevention Protect Life Strategy. Almost 1 million Lifeline calls, from more than 50,000 people in crisis, witness to more than 200 family bereavements by suicide in just over a decade, this speaker has clear messages on what works and what helps people in crisis. Fergus challenges the toxic corrosive legacy conflict and austerity causing impossible gaps in trust between the public and those who govern. Best investigative journalism and commissions of inquiry all too often expose historical scapegoats, revealing few culture change lessons learned, dusty reports piled high. Fergus argues how, in his experience, good people don’t set out to do harm, yet are naturally intimidated into silence when employers ‘lawyer up’, scapegoat spotlight at the ready. Fergus makes the case for courage, compassion and candour in public life. He will emphasise how stamina fails the best experts in the absence of solidarity and understanding. Isolation, defensive denial, chronic delay result in zero lessons learned: common threads linking all preventable death inquiries. Nowhere more apparent than when suicide visits family, school or workplace communities. Fergus ranks NI regional suicide rates as disastrous. He links international evidence to his conviction that every suicide is preventable until the last moment of life.

11

CAWT’s EU INTERREG VA Innovation Recovery

Project Overview

The Innovation Recovery (iRecovery) Project seeks to revolutionise mental health services by

empowering people with lived experience of mental illness to pioneer education on self-management

and ‘Recovery’. The project has adopted a social/educational approach to build upon other

clinical/therapeutic interventions to support people to regain control over their lives and self-manage

mental health conditions. The Recovery ethos combines the expert knowledge of patients, with the

clinical skills of mental health practitioners. Working together these groups co-produce and co-deliver a

diverse range of educational courses in response to the needs of other service users and people with

mental health problems.

Funding

The Project has been awarded grant funding up to €7,614,750.66 from the EU’s INTERREG VA

programme. This includes 15% match funding from both Departments of Health in NI and RoI.

Project Partners

Delivery Sites

The project has established 3 ‘hub-and-spoke’

delivery sites between the Republic of Ireland and

Northern Ireland within the following areas:

The project partners are comprised of

representatives from the field of Health and

Social Care in both Northern Ireland and the

Republic of Ireland. The Innovation

Recovery project board members are senior

managers from each of the partner

organisations as well as representatives of

people who have had lived experience of

mental illness.

12

Project Outputs:

Project Contact

CAWT Deputy Chief Officer: Edel O’Doherty

Email edel.odoherty@westhealth.n-i.nhs.uk

Tel 028 71 272100

www.cawt.com/irecovery

@CAWTCrossBorder

@CAWTCrossBorder

13

CAWT’s EU INTERREG VA Multiple Adverse Childhood

Experiences (MACE)

Project Overview The MACE project aims to transform the lives of vulnerable families who are at risk from

multiple adversities in their lives, through identification, early intervention and the provision of

nurturing support within their communities.

Funding

The Project has been awarded grant funding up to €5,010,240.11 from the EU’s INTERREG VA

programme. This includes 15% match funding from both Departments of Health in NI and RoI.

The project will run until 2021.

Project Partners

Delivery Sites

The project will have 7 full time staff working across the delivery sites between the Republic of

Ireland and Northern Ireland within the following areas:

The project partners are comprised of representatives from the field of Health and Social Care in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The MACE project board members are senior managers from each of the partner organisations who are committed to better outcomes for families through cross border cooperation.

1

2

3

4 5

1. Derry, Letterkenny & Inishowen

2. Strabane & West Donegal

3. Fermanagh, Sligo & Leitrim

4. Armagh, Cavan & Monaghan

5. Newry & Louth

14

Project Outputs:

1. Development of an Adversity Matrix

This will be a new cross border area framework for the identification and assessment of

families at risk from multiple adverse childhood experiences.

2. Development of a Strengths Stratification tool

This will be a cross border area framework to identify the appropriate targeted intervention to

support families that have been identified via the Adversity Matrix

3. Develop and support five Cross Border Community Networks of Excellence

These networks will utilise existing Local Planning Groups, Family Support Hubs and the

Children and Young Person Strategic Partnership in NI and Prevention Partnership Family

Support, Child Family Support Networks and the Children Young Person’s Service

Committees in ROI. They will advise the project board in relation to current and future

needs, the types of interventions required to meet local need, training and capacity building

required to ensure the sustainability of practice beyond the life of the project. These

networks will share best practice, knowledge and learning to enhance cross border

cooperation during and after the project.

4. Deliver Interventions

The project will deliver 3125 interventions for families with children in age categories 0-3

years and 11-13 years. These will encompass interventions classified as Universal,

Targeted or Specialist and will be delivered on an individual and/or group basis.

5. EHealth Technologies

The project will develop a platform which will support the networks to identify need, target

appropriate support and monitor outcomes. The technologies will be used as a resource by

staff and communities during the life of the project and beyond.

Project Contact

MACE Project Manager: Sean McGrory

Email: sean.mcgrory@tusla.ie

Tel: 00353 8764 72191

www.cawt.com/mace

@CAWTCrossBorder

@CAWTCrossBorder

15

Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) An increasing body of research identifies the long-term harms that can result from chronic stress during childhood. Such stress arises when children are routinely exposed to issues such as those illustrated below and other stress factors in their homes. Collectively, such childhood stressors are called ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences).

The Ten Indicators of ACE

Research shows that exposure to ACE is associated with poorer outcomes for children including in educational attainment, employment, involvement in crime, family breakdown and a range of health and wellbeing measures.

The Harmful Behaviours and Diseases Linked to ACE

Globally, the relationship between ACE and the development of health harming behaviours and chronic disease in adulthood was first explored in the USA by Felitti et al. (1998). Based on this research, organisations including the World Health Organisation (WHO) have strongly promoted research into ACEs internationally and have developed standard ACE tools to support measurement of the prevalence and impact of ACEs on population health. A national ACE study undertaken in England found that almost half of the general population reported at least one ACE and over 8% reported four or more (Bellis et al. 2014). In Northern Ireland, Queen’s University Belfast and University of Ulster (Spratt, 2011 and Devaney et al, 2012 & 2014) have also been involved in many studies of children, young people and families who have experienced multiple adversities.

Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Credit: Robert Wood Johnston Foundation (2018)

Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Credit: Robert Wood Johnston Foundation (2018)

16

Institute of Mental Health Sciences (IMHS)

Research Presentation Award 2018

Ulster University’s Institute of Mental Health Sciences (IMHS) is a

multidisciplinary institute that provides a holistic biopsychosocial approach to mental health research.

The Inaugural IMHS Research

Presentation Award will be bestowed upon the most inspiring and professional

speaker, elected by three independent attendees.

An engraved glass trophy will be

presented by Professor Chérie Armour, Director of the Institute of Mental Health

Sciences and Associate Dean (Research & Impact), Faculty of Life & Health Sciences.

17

Exhibition

We are delighted that our audience includes delegates from a wide range of specialities and

sectors including people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, carers, emergency

services personnel, statutory health and social care services, community and voluntary sector

representatives and the private sector. The Conference also provides an opportunity for the EU

INTERREG VA Innovation Recovery project team to showcase the great work which has

recently commenced under the auspices of the CAWT cross border health and social care

partnership.

The conference organisers which to express their sincere thanks to all exhibitors at this

conference. We would urge all delegates to show their support for all external exhibitors

throughout the entire conference.

Networking Opportunities This annual mental health conference and exhibition is your opportunity to meet with many

voluntary organisations who work with young people with mental health issues. Our exhibition

forms the networking hub of the conference, giving you the space you need to exchange ideas

and discuss the content from the day with delegates.

As well as academic research and expert opinion, the conference includes first-hand testimony

from service users themselves, providing unique insights from those already benefiting from

mental health facilities – and eager to see innovations that could transform recovery.

The Exhibition will be open from

09.00 to 17.00

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Mental Health Awareness Poster Competition

“Social Media and Mental Health

let’s talk”

The Mental Health Nursing Department at Ulster University have launched a poster competition

to increase recognition about the impact mental health can have on all of our lives. This poster

competition will form part of our Fifteenth Annual Mental Health Conference taking place at the

Magee Campus on Saturday 27 October 2018.

An aspiration of the conference is to raise public awareness of mental health well-being within

schools. A unique way to do this is to have your students participate in creating a poster

concentrating on mental health issues. It will give them the opportunity to discuss and explore

the various types of problems and issues that children confront.

We would like to encourage you to celebrate the outcome of the finished products by entering

this POSTER COMPETITION. Winning posters will form part of the conference exhibition and

students and their school will be notified before the event. The awarding of prizes will occur at

the conference ONLY.

Conference Art Exhibition will take place on 27 October 2018 inside the new MU Building

(beside library) Magee Campus.

The Exhibition will be open from 09.00 to 17.00pm.

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NOTES: