10th October 2024
The Adolescent Network for Northern Ireland (ANNI), a group of Emergency Medicine clinicians dedicated to enhancing adolescent emergency care across various Emergency Departments in Northern Ireland, is excited to announce the launch of the HEEADSSS screening tool and resource website.
HEEADSSS, an established tool developed in the 1990s (originally as HEADSS), is designed to assess risky behaviours and psychosocial risks among young people. The screening covers key areas, including Home, Education, Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexual Health, and Suicide Prevention/Safety.
The HEEADSSS website offers professional-led, parent-led and self-screening options for adolescents. Developed in collaboration with young people and youth workers, the tool aims to provide comprehensive support tailored to the needs of young people.
In 2023, ANNI received funding through the Belfast Trust Chairman’s Awards, allowing the purchase of access to the website for an initial three-year period, adding Northern Ireland as a supported region. The site is now mapped to a variety of local Northern Ireland-based organisations and charities that provide assistance to young people in the areas covered by the screening tool, as well as offering resources from across the UK.
The HEEADSSS website is free to access at https://app.heeadsss.uk/. Users aged between 13 and 20 can select “Northern Ireland” as their region to access tailored resources. No registration is required. Please note that the website is not monitored; in case of an emergency, individuals should call 999 or visit their nearest Emergency Department.