13 Mayo children left waiting over a year for CAMHS appointment
A total of 171 children in Mayo are waiting more than 90 days for an appointment with the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
A total of 57 of those children are waiting more than nine months, and, shockingly, 13 children are waiting for more than a year.
Mayo Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh has called for cross-party support for their party’s proposals to reform mental health services in the wake of the Mental Health Commission’s interim report.
The proposals will be debated in the Dáil on Tuesday.
She said: “Scandals in our CAMHS were laid bare once more last week, and the government needs to act urgently to ensure that we have services that are fit for purpose.
"There are serious concerns and risks for patients currently accessing CAMHS.
“Where the government has failed, Sinn Féin wants to offer solutions. We would reform mental health services to ensure that they are properly resourced and fully staffed.
“Early intervention is key. Children and young people must have access to mental services when and where they need them.
“Services should be extended to 25 to prevent ‘cliff edge’ of 18. Most acute long-term mental health difficulties develop between ages of 16 and 25.
“We are calling for multi-annual funding for CAMHS to be able to operate and forward-plan, to be able to properly staff teams, and we are calling for an integrated IT system to improve quality of care.
“We want accountability in mental health services and so are shocking issues raised in the Mental Health Commission’s interim report.
“The report did not come as a shock to any family who has experience of accessing CAMHS. They know too well that this government has been failing young people as waiting lists have dramatically increased under their watch.
“At the end of last year, more than 4,000 children are currently waiting for appointments with Child And Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
"Currently, 171 children in Mayo are waiting more than 90 days for an appointment with the specialist mental health services provider.
"A total of 57 of those children are waiting more than nine months, and, shockingly, 13 children are waiting for more than a year.
“We must introduce national standards for monitoring antipsychotic medication.
“We must develop a joined-up and comprehensive health and social care workforce strategy to increase education places and training opportunities between the Departments of Health and Higher Education, the HSE, Regional Health Areas/Hospital Groups, and higher education institutions.
“We must increase undergraduate and post-graduate courses and training places for mental health professions based on evidence for required staffing levels and projected population needs to reduce reliance on overtime and international recruitment.
“Our mental health services are in crisis and we can do so much better.
"We owe it to our children and young people,” she added.