A new initiative is being launched to highlight the impacts of parental alcohol misuse on children.
Some 400,000 people in Ireland are adult children from alcohol-impacted families.
Recent data from the Health Service Executive (HSE) has indicated that approximately 200,000 young children are likely experiencing hidden harm by living with and being impacted by parental alcohol misuse.
'Silent Voices' is an initiative of Alcohol Action Ireland that aims to end the silence of the experience of growing up with parental alcohol misuse.
It wants to promote an understanding of the adverse impacts of parental alcohol misuse on the lives of children, including children who are now adults.
It also plans to secure supports for those who have lived, or are living, with the issue.
The driving force behind the initiative is three women who experienced parental alcohol misuse as children: Carol Fawsitt, Marion Rackard and Barbara Whelan.
Ms Fawsitt is also chair of Alcohol Action Ireland: "Parental alcohol misuse - and its negative impacts on children - is something that rarely gets an airing or acknowledgement in Irish society.
"Many of us from all walks of life have grown up under a shadow of alcohol misuse.
"The harms and negative impacts of growing up under this shadow can manifest themselves in different ways, but especially at a time of life change, such as a family bereavement, redundancy or pregnancy.
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"It's my experience that life change with a backdrop of parental alcohol misuse can take its toll, and services - such as counselling - often don't recognise the link between parental alcohol misuse and trauma in adult children.
"For adult children, our message is this: if you are experiencing trauma in your life, seek help and don't be afraid to do so.
"It is our experience... that by seeking help, many latent fears and coping mechanisms adopted in childhood can be addressed with significant personal benefits."
Over the coming years, 'Silent Voices' wants to grow awareness of alcohol harm to others, through direct engagement with practitioners and service providers.
It will be engaging with national sign-posting services, so that those seeking help can be clear about what service to contact, and what help they can expect.
Alcohol Action Ireland has instigated outreach to HSE services and emotional support helplines, of the potential of increased enquiries about support from people who have experienced harm caused by parental alcohol misuse.
'Silent Voices' is administratively supported and advised by the offices of Alcohol Action Ireland and its executive - while private donations are funding specific launch/start-up costs.
