OUR Generation’s New Scoping Reports Published  

The OUR Generation Project has published two important Scoping Reports covering Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland; shining a light on the mental health challenges facing children and young people aged 9-25.

Drawing on the completion of surveys and interviews with young people, youth workers, educators, and community leaders, the reports reveal common issues across both regions, as well as unique local challenges.

Key findings include:

• Anxiety, low self-esteem and poor resilience are the most common mental health concerns, often linked to school pressures, social media, and post-pandemic isolation.
• Concerns around school avoidance (especially among autistic youth).
• Rural isolation, poor transport and poverty make it harder for young people to access support.
• Minority ethnic and LGBTQ+ youth face bullying, stigma, exclusion, and a lack of inclusive safe spaces.
• Long CAMHS waiting lists and a shortage of crisis services leave many without timely help, with community organisations filling the gap.
• Many groups, including young parents, care leavers, neurodivergent youth, and NEETs are missing out on vital support.
• Transgenerational trauma from the conflict, along with socioeconomic deprivation, family breakdown, and discrimination, continue to impact mental health.
• Growing concerns around online safety, including exposure to sexual and misogynistic content, cyberbullying, and gaming addiction.
• Increasing substance misuse, including vaping, THC oil, prescription and illegal drugs.

The reports also set out community-led recommendations, which include culturally sensitive delivery, trauma-informed training for professionals, and the creation of safe, welcoming spaces for all young people.

Carol Scullion, OUR Generation Project Manager from lead partner Action Mental Health, welcomed the findings of both reports, noting that while the picture isn’t always positive, having this evidence provides a roadmap for the OUR Generation Project to continue to drive change. She said:

“I’d like to thank the OUR Generation team at Co-operation Ireland for their diligence in compiling these reports. As a cross border partnership of nine regional organisations, these findings give us a clearer picture of where we need to focus our efforts.”

She added: “By listening to young people and those working in local communities, we can target resources where they’ll make the most difference.”

Katrina McIlmail from Co-operation Ireland, said her team have already been using the information they’ve gathered to address the needs of young people and key youth workers across these areas. She reflected on the changing nature of the issues raised in the latest Scoping Reports. She said:

“It’s interesting to see how themes have changed since OUR Generation started five years ago. Back then it was COVID isolation and loneliness, then it became gender issues and neurodiversity and now our most popular training courses have been around cultural awareness and managing anger – it’s like a snapshot in time of where young people are in terms of wellbeing.”

The Scoping Reports will guide OUR Generation’s cross-border work from 2024–2027, ensuring that projects address real, identified needs in communities.

Read the full reports here: https://ourgeneration-cyp.com/publications/