Photo : HSE building in Portlaoise
For immediate release.
From: Just Forests-Rhode, Co. Offaly.
Date: Tuesday 5 March 2024
Contact: Tom Roche
Mobile: 086 8049389
HSE upholds ‘threat to children’s mental health’ complaint.
Just Forests welcomes decision by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to uphold complaint.
Imagine for a moment if your local Hospital had a section dedicated to the treatment of lung cancer in children. How would you feel if you discovered literature pinned on the notice board in the waiting area promoting a children’s art competition sponsored by a tobacco company?
Nowadays, nobody disputes the appropriateness of tobacco sponsorship, once so ubiquitous in the marketing playbook of art and sports organisations and events. Equally, nobody disputes the appropriateness of alcohol advertising aimed at children and young people.
Well, it’s the same when it comes to mental health matters in children. Eco-anxiety amongst children has become a major concern. The continued use of fossil fuels poses real threats to children’s well-being.
A study in the Lancet Medical Journal found that,
‘A large proportion of children and young people around the world report emotional distress and a wide range of painful, complex emotions (sad, afraid, angry, powerless, helpless, guilty, ashamed, despair, hurt, grief, and depressed). Similarly, large numbers report experiencing some functional impact and have pessimistic beliefs about the future (people have failed to care for the planet; the future is frightening; humanity is doomed; they won’t have access to the same opportunities their parents had; things they value will be destroyed; security is threatened; and they are hesitant to have children). These results reinforce findings of earlier empirical research and expand on previous findings by showing the extensive, global nature of this distress, as well as its impact on functioning. Climate distress is clearly evident both in countries that are already experiencing extensive physical impacts of climate change, such as the Philippines, a nation that is highly vulnerable to coastal flooding and typhoons. It is also evident in countries where the direct impacts are still less severe, such as the UK, where populations are relatively protected from extreme weather events.’
Ecoanxiety is also having a significant impact on children’s mental health here in Ireland. According to Dr. Molly Bredin, College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, “…we know it’s a key issue for children and teenagers and it’s changing the way adults vote – ecoanxiety is going to become relevant in our lifetime.” (You can find more on this at: https://www.irishpsychiatry.ie/blog/should-we-be-worried-about-eco-anxiety/https://www.irishpsychiatry.ie/blog/should-we-be-worried-about-eco-anxiety/
In mid-February, I became aware that literature promoting the ‘Texaco Children’s Art Competition’ was on display in the waiting room of CAMHS Laois (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).
I travelled over to Portlaoise and spoke to a CAMHS Laois member of staff. I pointed out the inappropriateness of having such promotional material on display considering the links between climate and the increase in anxiety in children and the links to our use of fossil fuels. I made a formal complaint to CAMHS Laois.
I would like to thank the HSE for responding positively to my complaint.
In a letter dated 23 February, 2024, the HSE stated:
‘I refer to your complaint received by this office on 20th February, 2024 regarding display of a poster in the waiting room in CAMHS Laois providing information on an Art competition. I wish to inform you that I have completed my investigation into your complaint.
I can confirm that this poster has been removed from the waiting area and will not be reposted. There are no other such posters displayed in any of our CAMHS or YAMHS offices in the Midlands.
I would like to sincerely apologise on behalf of the HSE.
Yours sincerely,
[name]
Complaints Officer, CAMHS/YAMHS Midlands.
(You can see HSE letter for verification on request)
It is now timely, in my opinion, given the catastrophic impact of the fossil oil company on the increasingly fragile global ecosystem, to ban all fossil fuel advertising/sponsorship in the classroom and on the sports pitch. Our children deserve no less.
The debate around fossil fuel sponsorship in the arts, sports and beyond is of paramount importance in the overall response to climate change. In this context, Just Forests will continue to campaign around the Texaco children’s art competition and hope others will join us in that campaign. Just Forests fully expect the campaign to gain increasing momentum in the coming months.
ENDS
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