Mental Health of Immigrant Children: A New Challenge for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services in Ireland

Abstract

Ethnically, Ireland has diversified greatly over the past few years. According to the 2006 census, 419733 foreign nationals live in Ireland. Immigration is one of the one of the most stressful events a child can undergo; it involves profound changes, including a disruption of well-established relationships and acculturation. Since the long-established and dominant pattern for years had been emigration, Ireland is poorly equipped to meet mental health needs of immigrant children.

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Notes on contributors

Norbert Skokauskas

Norbert Skokauskas is a Senior Registrar at the Department of Child Psychiatry of St James's Hospital, Dublin

Dermot Clarke

Dermot Clarke is a Senior Registrar at the Navan Child Guidance Clinic, Navan, Co. Meath