Conference on mental well-being for young people
Heart Children is to host a conference on health and mental well-being for young people with congenital heart disease (CHD), and their families, on Saturday, February 18.
Marking Global Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Month, The Beat Goes On conference aims to support young people age 16 and upwards as they move from paediatric to adult care, with lots of practical tips and advice for self-care.
The event will also provide a forum for parents as they step back from the management of their child’s serious medical condition and navigate how best to offer support into the future.
Between 500-600 babies are born with CHD here in Ireland each year. In fact, it is the most common birth defect with one in every 100 children born with the condition worldwide.
CHD can vary from mild, such as a small hole in the heart, to severe, such as missing or poorly-formed parts of the heart. Regrettably, children with the more complex forms of CHD will need ongoing heart surgeries throughout their lifetime to manage the disease.
Research shows that up to 50 per cent of people living with CHD endure a lifetime prevalence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, as a result of their condition.
This conference, which is completely free of charge, will take place in the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Dublin 2 – to register, simply email info@heartchildren.ie
For more information on the work of Heart Children, and the supports provided, visit www.heartchildren.ie