In 2006 the Government published a report of the expert group on mental health policy. This report is called A Vision for Change. One of the recommendations of this report is that mental health services for children should be provided by multidisciplinary teams. In effect this means that each team is made up of clinicians from different disciplines who all work together to provide a range of therapeutic interventions for each child. Usually a Multidisciplinary Team is made up of the clinicians in the following areas:
1. Consultant Psychiatrist
2. Psychiatrist in training.
3. Nurse
4. Psychologist
5. Social Worker
6. Occupational Therapist
7. Speech and Language Therapist
8. Social Care Worker.
Click on the links to read more information about each discipline in Lucena Clinic.
You can also read the full text of A Vision for Change
Growing up can be fun but tricky. Sometimes people need to talk to a grown up to help figure out a problem. It’s good to talk about worrying things so we can better understand our feelings and how we act.
Adolescence is an important time of physical, social, emotional and educational development. It can be exciting but confusing. Sometimes it can feel like we don't have any control over what we think or how we feel. But by making simple changes to our lives, we can make a real difference.
Lucena was the name of the house and the first hospital which St. John of God opened in 1537 in the city of Granada, Spain. To honour the 5th centenary of the birth of St. John of God in 1495, the Order renamed its Child and Adolescent Mental Health services as Lucena Clinic Services.
The Order wishes to extend the same hospitality shown by John to everyone who came seeking help, healing or shelter at his house on Lucena Street, to every child and family coming to any of the clinics at Rathgar; Tallaght; Dun Laoghaire, Bray and Wickow.
Lucena Clinic Services is the Child and Adolescent Mental Health service of St. John of God Community Services Limited. Lucena Clinic Services is a registered charity and has been providing a mental health service to children and adolescents and their families for over 50 years.
The Lucena Clinic services are delivered via our 5 clinics in
Rathgar - tel : (01) 492 3596
Tallaght - tel : (01) 452 6333
Dun Laoghaire - tel; (01) 280 9809
Bray - tel : (01) 286 6886
Wicklow - tel : 0404 25591
If you are trying to contact ST. PETER'S SCHOOL please visit their website. St. Peter's School or
ring their DIRECT LINE : 01 4999300 Please do not ring Lucena Clinic as we cannot transfer your call.
Mark is 9 years old and is constantly in trouble in school. He finds it difficult to sit still in his chair in school and regularly gets up to look out the window. He is easily distracted when taking down his homework from the backboard and often brings home the wrong books. He has a very short concentration span and this is evident when he is doing his homework or when he is playing games at home. He has difficulty waiting his turn and constantly interrupts when others are talking. He can hardly sit down at mealtimes to eat his meals as he is so energetic and he finds it hard to sit still….
Children with ADHD may be difficulties at home and in the classroom. Children with ADHD may find it difficult to learn social rules easily or to understand social cues. This can affect how they make friends, or don’t make friends. Turn taking can be problematic, and interrupting other children when talking can make developing friendships difficult.
If ADHD is untreated there can be very serious consequences in a person’s academic, social and family life. School years are particularly difficult for children with ADHD as they find it difficult to conform to the restraints of the classroom, often standing up or looking out of the window . Their behaviour can be very frustrating for parents and teachers and other children.
These is no single cause of ADHD but research has shown that there is a combination of genetic and environmental factors involved.
How can we help.
If a child’s symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsiveness are impairing the child’s social, academic and family functioning, then help is required. The child should be brought to a GP to rule out any medical cause for these symptoms. If necessary, hearing and vision should be checked.
The first stage of treatment is providing education and support, to child and parents, on ADHD and its management. The aim of treatment is to manage the symptoms of ADHD to enable the child to lead a normal life and reach full potential.
Books for parents
Books for teachers / educators
Books for children
Young Minds
www.youngminds.org.uk
National Library of Medicine
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
INCADDS
www.incadds.ie
HADD resource booklet for teachers
www.hadd.ie
Special Education Support Service
www.sess.ie
About Our Kids
www.aboutourkids.org
