Survey finds most parents want training to help with their children's mental health

Up to 88% of parents believe they would benefit from training about issues that affect their children's mental health.

The majority of parents would like mental health training, according to a new report.

St Patrick's Mental Health Services says 88% of parents believe they would benefit from more support or training on mental health and well-being.

As part of national parents' week, 1,200 people took part in a survey on the best way to introduce a discussion on the issue in schools.

Paul Gilligan CEO of St Patrick's Mental Health Services says we have to be careful that we are not undermining our children's confidence.

He said: "They interpret difficulties they might have academically, difficulties they might have socially as reflecting on them as people. They don't have the maturity that maybe adults have that they know it's not about them.

"We have to be very careful around confidence and try and combat some of these cultural things that we have about undermining ourselves.

"I think young people in their teenage years and young adults are very good at that, it's very important that parents focus on that with younger children."

He also said children have the capacity to live emotionally healthy lives.

Mr Gilligan said: "Parents are telling us that, even as young as primary school we need to be focusing on children's emotional health, and I think that's a really important message which we need to take very seriously.

"I think we need to look at initiatives that would enable us to start helping young children in primary schools to enhance their own emotional health and well-being."