A report commissioned by Kildare Youth Services has called for more funding to be made available to meet the needs of the rising numbers of young people reaching out for counselling services.
With a modest increase in funding KYS could provide a model for the rest of the country to follow, according to Dr Kevin Lalor, head of the Social Sciences Department of the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT). The report, Youth Counselling Service: A Needs Assessment, was launched by Dr Patricia Kennedy, executive member of the Irish Association of Counsellors and Therapists (IACT) in the KYS headquarters in Naas.
Dr Lalor, who carried out the research, said KYS provided an "extremely well-run operation, providing excellent service to young people" in Newbridge, Naas and Athy. But he added that the service should be extended to include the entire county of Kildare as there were young people in other parts of the county who were not being catered for.
Dr Lalor said his research highlighted popular perceptions that there was an increase in drinking, drug use and sexual activity among young people and that family break-up was at an all-time high. He added that these factors contributed to the level of depression and unhappiness among young people.
"Having said all that, it is my view that the vast majority of young people are well adjusted the vast majority of the time," he said. "We are very close to providing the sort of service that would provide a model for the rest of the country."