MIND MOVES: As a psychologist, one of the questions I am most frequently asked is: what is the most important contributor to good mental health? It's undoubtedly the $64,000 question.
Is a sturdy genetic inheritance your best insurance, or is an optimistic mindset the key tool in warding off demons? Does a problem-solving focus best equip you for life's vicissitudes?
Everyone will have an opinion on this, and there is likely to be a certain amount of truth in all of these perspectives.
In my view, we enter life with certain predispositions, shaped by complex biological and genetic determinants, which create a context for our personality development.
The extent to which we are encouraged to value these attributes, to take pride in our individual contribution, in other words, the social support we receive, will determine how these translate into good mental health.
Psychologists have long emphasised the importance of fostering validating environments. This does not mean that we agree with everything the child or adolescent does or says.
It means we respect where they are coming from, treat their views with respect and present our own views in return.
We can't insist our own views will be treated with respect unless we show the young person what this looks like.
Sounds simple - show lots of affection, set boundaries and treat what they say with respect. Unfortunately, it is much harder to put into practice than to speak about.
Alarming trends have been documented in the latest mental health statistics for teenagers. These include increases in suicides, depression, drug abuse, self-harm, stress and anxiety.
Much research has been conducted into investigating those factors that make some young people resilient to stress, while others go on to experience mental health difficulties as teenagers.
We in Ireland need to ask these questions now, more than ever, as youth suicides continue to rise. The answers, as provided by research and common sense, converge: high self-esteem and a sense of being valued and included is the best protection.
So what do we do to support our young people?
Listening to them would be a good place to start. Yet again, deceptively simple, but so far from what we do. Let's put this into a practical context.
In May of this year, thousands of young (and not so young) people took to the streets with a strong desire to communicate. The main messages were straightforward: we are not happy with domestic and foreign policy; we would like to see a change of focus in funding priorities; we feel alienated from current party politics, they don't interest us, they seem irrelevant to contemporary issues.
So, what did we do in response to this expression of social interest and political ideology?
Some 29 people were arrested and many were held in prison for up to a week. The majority of these were charged and many are serving probation in advance of a trial in the autumn which could lead to a sentence of up to six months in prison.
This must prompt the question, what message are we giving to our youth?
Here we had youthful energy, idealism, passion and social conscience out on the streets. It represented an opportunity for those in power to acknowledge these legitimate concerns and celebrate the fact that these young people were seeking to engage and not sitting at home alone feeling marginalised and disillusioned.
As with most social issues, fundamental shifts in policy are the most effective vehicles of change.
We need comprehensive government policies that place children and young people centre stage, recognising their vulnerability while creating a safe space for them to explore the world.
Supporting families; creating vocational training opportunities; creating choice; flexibility and adequate supports in schools; and providing public space for recreational use are among the measures that need to be prioritised.
As health professionals, we see every day the effects of poor social support on the teenagers who are brought to see us with depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, self-harm or aggression.
While undoubtedly the culmination of many factors, failing to create a "validating environment" is just as relevant for teenagers as for children and it is not simply up to parents to do this.
Loneliness and isolation are at the root of many mental health difficulties. Communities and society at large have a responsibility to create an atmosphere of inclusion. The old adage "it's the village that raises the child" has never been so apt.
• Dr Sarah McNamara is a psychologist. She has written two books: Stress in Young People: What's New and What Can We Do? (Continuum, 2000) and Stress Management Programme for Secondary School Students (RoutledgeFalmer, 2001). Both are available in most bookshops.
• Tony Bates is on leave.