Parents urged to use online tool to help young people's mental health
The website can be used by patients, clinicians and parents
An ED Consultant is praising a new website which helps signpost young people to support services within the Belfast Trust.
HEEADSSS stands for Home, Education/employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexual health, Suicide/mood and Safety.
It was launched last year and has since been accessed over 2500 times.
The tool helps parents and patients to see the help available for a number of different issues and also helps medical professionals to signpost them.
Dr Philip Martin explains the inspiration behind it:
"I have an interest in improving the experience of young people who attend our Emergency Department.
"One of the things that we found as a challenge is knowing where all of the resources are that can provide help and support, either during their visit to the Emergency Department or after."
The website is free to access and aims to support the health and wellbeing of young people by identifying and addressing areas where they may need additional help or guidance.
Dr Martin said:
"The website is available to anyone aged 13-20 but we would strongly encourage parents and guardians to use it too, and alert young people to the site so they can use it themselves."
He added: “The most accessed section is suicide/safety followed by the education/employment and drugs/alcohol sections.
“Whilst initially aimed at young people attending our Emergency Departments, the site is highly relevant to young people and their families in the wider community.
“If you have a young person in your care and you have concerns about any aspect of their health or wellbeing, the information on HEEADSSS could mark the beginning of a very important journey for that young person signposting them to a host of local and national resources and organisations who offer help and support.”
There are posters in clinical assessment cubicles in the Emergency Departments of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Mater Hospital and children’s hospital with a QR code which also leads to the site.
You can access the tool here