Londonderry hears 40,000 kids suffering 'hidden harm' from booze

The NSPCC, the Public Health Agency and the DIVERT Alcohol and Drug Project today, Wednesday, June 23, launch a multi-agency awareness raising campaign that seeks to highlight the effect of parental alcohol and drug misuse on children and young people at the City Hotel in Londonderry.

Launching the initiative, Margaret Gallagher, NSPCC local campaigns co-ordinator, said: "The impact of parental substance misuse on children is often referred to as 'Hidden Harm.'

"In Northern Ireland, approximately 40,000 children are living with parental alcohol abuse which is the specific focus of the first phase of this campaign.

"The first phase is initially being launched in Derry, Strabane and Limavady before being extended to the Omagh and Enniskillen areas in the autumn.

"Other Hidden Harm issues, such as drug use, will be covered later in the year."

The aim of the campaign materials and activities is to highlight to professionals and those in the community the impact of living with Hidden Harm on children and young people.

It also provides an opportunity to signpost those living with Hidden Harm to local support services and national helplines which provide advice and support.

Welcoming the campaign Bronach McMonagle, DIVERT, said: "Through our intervention programmes, Divert aims to engage those most vulnerable within our communities as a result of Alcohol and/or Drug misuse.

"A major part of our work involves supporting children and young people whose lives are affected as a result of Parental Substance Misuse.

"Often, children living with alcohol misuse in the family can be at risk from harmful behaviours themselves such as alcohol or drug use.

"We hope our work and involvement within the Hidden Harm campaign will help build on the links we have established with other statutory and voluntary organisations which in turn will raise the awareness of the services we provide.

"We can continue to assist and learn from each other as we address the Hidden Harm issue in community and youth settings."

This campaign has been developed in response to the regional Hidden Harm Action Plan, launched by Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey in 2008, which identified the need for a collaborative effort in safeguarding and promoting children's welfare and raising public awareness about parental substance misuse.

The Minister stated: "Hidden Harm is about recognising the negative impact that substance misuse has on the misuser's family and friends. Quite often, and sadly, the biggest impact is felt by children and young people born to, or living with, a substance misusing parent or carer.

"They often suffer in silence and their parents' substance misuse often has a deep and long-lasting impact on their lives which may not fully emerge until young adulthood and beyond.

"It is important that we begin to raise awareness of this issue in Northern Ireland, and I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the campaign the PHA is taking forward in partnership with the NSPCC and Divert."

Commending the partnership approach Cathy Mullan, Public Health Agency, said: "The Hidden Harm Action Plan for NI brings together a range of agencies and initiatives to improve the way in which we identify, protect and support children and young people living with parental substance misuse.

"Responding to the needs of children born to and living with parental alcohol abuse is a complex challenge for which no single agency or group has the resources to tackle alone.

"The success of our work in the Public Health Agency is dependent on the commitment of our partners from within and outside the health sector as substance misuse has an impact on families, our community and on our society as a whole. We look forward to working with our partners in tackling this important and sensitive issue."

The Hidden Harm campaign is funded by the Public Health Agency and NSPCC in partnership with the Divert Alcohol and Drug Project.