Talking About Tough Issues
05/10/2012
A range of new materials on mental and sexual health have been developed to help parents to support children through their teenage years.
Talking to your Children about Tough Issues (TATI) is a programme for parents running throughout Health and Social Care Trusts for a number of years.
Originally with a focus on drugs and alcohol misuse, an evaluation of the programme showed that parents would like mental and sexual health issues to be included.
Deirdre Magill, BME Drug and Alcohol Co-ordinator for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust said: “Parents attending TATI workshops have consistently said that they are worried about the range of issues that their children face today.
“The teenage years can be a challenging time for families. These workshops are not a magic answer but give parents ideas and strategies to build upon when coping with some of the difficult issues that teenagers have to deal with.”
What parents have said about the TATI programme: “The programme was a real help, particularly in dealing with my older child. It’s a changing time, she’s no longer a child, but is still not an adult. I would recommend it to all parents”.
“Peer pressure and external pressures are areas that as a parent can't quite get on top of, but, as a result of the course I am much more confident”.
For further information on TATI programmes in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area Tel: 028 3741 2431 Email: Maureen.mcsorley@southerntrust.hscni.net
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Pictured at the launch of the TATI modules on Mental and Wellbeing and Sexual Health Awareness for parents are Leo Foy Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Officer, Public Health Agency with Lyndsey Mc Cann and Maureen Mc Sorley Senior Health Promotion Officers from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and representatives from the Southern, Western and Northern Health and Social Care Trusts and Lisburn YMCA