#Mental Health

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#Mental Health

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The State is once again reaching for backlog management in one isolated part of an overall dysfunctional system. That may create the appearance of action, but it does not answer the most basic question families are asking: when my child needs support, who will actually see them, how quickly, and in which service?</p>

comment-analysis

Assessment of need reform will not fix wider crisis of accessing care and children will pay the price

The assessment of need crisis is part of a wider failure by successive governments to build properly staffed, integrated child and adolescent services in the first place

Michael Clifford

SMick Clifford: We moved on from Covid — but did we learn anything?

<p>Mr O’Callaghan confirmed that 2,425 of the 5,817 people in prison as of February 27 were waiting to get psychological support. That 5,817 total means prison capacity stands at 123%. File picture</p>

court and crime

Minister admits inmates on waiting lists leave prison before attending psychology services

Inquest hears boy, 12, who it is suspected was killed by father had died as a result of asphyxiation

court and crime

Inquest hears boy, 12, who it is suspected was killed by father had died as a result of asphyxiation

Teacher and students in a classroom

comment-analysis

Teachers are not trained as first responders to students’ mental health needs

Crying girl

munster

North Kerry Camhs: Hundreds more children may receive apology

Back view and tracking shot of Professional female doctor or surgeon wearing white medical gowns have expertise. walking in hurr

HSE starts recruitment of suicide assessment nurses for Kerry, Limerick and four other regions

It means patients who are suicidal but do not have a physical injury can avoid going to a hospital emergency department

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Sad boy

Waiting list continues to grow for children to gain access to mental health services

Of the 4,587 children on Camhs lists at the end of January, 587 had been waiting more than a year for an appointment

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Mental heath referrals

North Kerry CAMHS review to be expanded

A review of 374 cases published last month found that more than half of those children faced risks of varying levels

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Domestic abuse

Women more likely to feel downhearted or depressed than men, new survey shows

CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions found over 65s reported higher levels of satisfaction with their lives and financial situation than younger age groups

Wed, 25 Mar, 2026

Mobile phone use for children and teenagers

Social media use linked to mental health problems in children

Research by Imperial College London finds those who spend more than three hours a day on platforms more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression as teenagers

Sun, 22 Mar, 2026

Sad teenage girl looking down

Mental health, disability and primary care for children to have single point of access in bid to reduce delays

HSE says new assessment of needs system will go live in June

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

Fergus Finlay: We must identify and honour all who died in psychiatric hospitals

S Fergus Finlay: We must identify and honour all who died in psychiatric hospitals

These were people who died innocent of any crime. They did not, and do not, deserve an unmarked grave

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

Official Opening of the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane

'I am a dangerous man,' says man arrested with large serrated knife in Cork City

The accused man himself objected to his own bail saying: 'I think I should be in Dundrum for life. I am seeing things everywhere constantly.'

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

Baby Stock

Surge in rate of new mothers dying from suicide

A third of the deaths of new mothers between 2019 to 2021 were at their own hands; that compares to 12.3% of maternal deaths analysed over the period from 2009 to 2021

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

One in three of those assessed for eating disorders are in their teens, figures show

One in three of those assessed for eating disorders are in their teens, figures show

Mental health minister Mary Butler provided the information in response to a parliamentary question

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

1/4/2018. 1916 Easter Rising Commemorations

Exposure to toxic chemicals in the air corps: 'I hate that my life feels over at 53'

Years of exposure to toxic chemicals while serving in the air corps have left Mick Murphy practically bed-ridden

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Vinyl records in a record shop, Pop music posters

Gareth O'Callaghan: The biggest mistake I ever made? Letting go of the soundtrack of my life

A lifetime vinyl collection once mapped the soundtrack of youth — until one impulsive decision sent it all away

Sat, 07 Mar, 2026

More gardaí and mental health services 'key' to safety

More gardaí and mental health services 'key' to safety

University of Limerick report highlighted lack of mental health, disability, and youth services

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026

Prison should not be a waiting room for mental health services

Prison should not be a waiting room for mental health services

Chronic underfunding, no outpatient service framework and a lack of supported accommodation have all brought us to the point where our prisons are full of the mentally ill, writes Charles O'Mahony

Thu, 26 Feb, 2026

Girl using her smart phone sitting on couch

Social media ban for under-16s takes responsibility away from Big Tech, says lawyer

The topic has come into sharp focus in recent months, after the Grok undressing controversy as well as Australia bringing such a ban into force

Wed, 25 Feb, 2026

Sarah Harte: Keeping boys alive becomes the main priority at a certain age

Sarah Harte: Keeping boys alive becomes the main priority at a certain age

The dominant script for raising boys may need changing as they may be more emotionally fragile than we think

Wed, 25 Feb, 2026

'The system failed him': Brother of man who died by suicide calls for change at Oireachtas committee

'The system failed him': Brother of man who died by suicide calls for change at Oireachtas committee

90 minutes after presenting at University Hospital Galway, Adam Loughnane ended his life in the River Corrib.

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Bail for man who admitted wanting to stab someone as he carried knives into Cork garda station

Bail for man who admitted wanting to stab someone as he carried knives into Cork garda station

The defendant was arrested in possession of two knives less than 24 hours before the alleged offence, but released with a doctor’s note to attend voluntarily at the psychiatric unit of a hospital

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Gareth O'Callaghan: The depression express and the small Irish habit of laughing through pain

Gareth O'Callaghan: The depression express and the small Irish habit of laughing through pain

A train journey, a funeral, and a shared conversation reveal Ireland’s complicated relationship with depression and silence

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

Autistic man with emotional age of a child in jail over Christmas

Autistic man with emotional age of a child in jail over Christmas

Judge emphasised she did not want to send him to prison but had no choice because the HSE had no placement for him

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

Man's schizophrenia treatment offer arrived two days after he killed his grandmother, Cork court told

Man's schizophrenia treatment offer arrived two days after he killed his grandmother, Cork court told

Sentencing was adjourned until March 4 so the judge can see details of a psychiatric care plan for the accused for whenever he is released from prison

Fri, 20 Feb, 2026

Official Opening of the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane

Central Mental Hospital admits Cork man who has spent eight months in prison

Both the prosecution and defence were of the view that an order should be made again to have the inmate sent to the CMH for treatment because his psychiatric condition is deteriorating in prison

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

HSE CEO Bernard Gloster

HSE chief apologises ‘unequivocally’ for North Kerry Camhs failures

More than half of cases involved risk as HSE chief pledges reform and investment in North Kerry Camhs

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Neglected lonely child

Youth mental health lead says ‘clearly there was a failure of oversight’ in North Kerry Camhs

Dr Amanda Burke says HSE will increase oversight and accountability after review found substandard care in Kerry Camhs

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Middle aged asia people old mom holding hands trust comfort help young woman talk crying stress relief at home. Mum as friend lo

Trust in HSE mental health services for children 'deeply shaken' by Camhs report

Some 79% of children were given medication under North Kerry Camhs in 2023, compared to a national rate of 39%.

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Sad girl in hooded top, sitting on a window ledge with head in hands in despair

Calls for major extension of HSE review of children's mental health care

HSE South West has pledged to review more cases before November 2022, but a solicitor representing many of the families seen by Camhs in Kerry said this should extend to 2010 "at least"

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Mental heath referrals

Families 'heartbroken and angry' after north Kerry mental health services report

Review of 374 active cases highlights medication concerns, governance failings and widespread risk in north Kerry child mental health services

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026

Official Opening of the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane

Central Mental Hospital has 38 on waiting list for 111 beds, Cork court told

A 58-year-old man in need of psychiatric treatment has spent the last eight months remanded in jail in the absence of a place at the Central Mental Hospital

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Inclusive Cork school left waiting for autism classes — as parents fund new sensory space

Inclusive Cork school left waiting for autism classes — as parents fund new sensory space

Scoil Eoin in Ballincollig has yet to get funds for three autism spectrum disorder classes already sanctioned by the NCSE

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

Official Opening of the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane

Court to continue search for psychiatric treatment for Cork man deteriorating in prison

Judge Boyle said: 'There simply are not enough beds to accommodate all the persons in the state who need them'

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

Scales Of Justice On Sunrise Landscape Background

Marion McKeone: Judgement day for social media platforms

Big Tech is facing a class action in the US over the addictive design of online apps

Sat, 14 Feb, 2026

Coronavirus - Tue Jan 26, 2021

Prisons watchdog expresses 'deep reservations' about how inmate was restrained before his death

Concern raised over extent of internal and external injuries revealed by a post mortem

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

Official Opening of the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane

Remedial works continue to fix heating at Ireland's state-of-the-art €200m mental hospital

At the start of the week, residents at the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane were being advised to wear 'warm clothing'

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

Wealthy New Yorker found not guilty of murdering father at Laois resort by reason of insanity

Wealthy New Yorker found not guilty of murdering father at Laois resort by reason of insanity

Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks said the accused told him he had smoked a lot of weed in high school during his mid-teens but stopped doing so by the age of 20

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Official Opening of the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane

Cork man in need of urgent psychiatric care remanded in jail due to lack of room at CMH

Judge Helen Boyle, who said the accused was clearly unwell and his condition was deteriorating while in prison over the past eight months, said: 'I am not a psychiatrist but I have a report that says he is in urgent need of medical attention.'

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Ireland’s prison system under fire over treatment of inmates with mental illness

Ireland’s prison system under fire over treatment of inmates with mental illness

RTÉ documentary lays bare how prisoners with severe mental illness are failed by the State, with devastating consequences for families

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Mentally ill people in prisons are being failed

Mentally ill people in prisons are being failed

Difficulties facing mentally ill prisoners are not news to those working on the front lines

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Official Opening of the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane

Irish Examiner view: Failing at the most basic of expected standards

Patients at state-of-the-art hospital urged to wear warm clothes due to heating system faults

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Minister to publish report into children’s mental health care in north Kerry within two weeks

Minister to publish report into children’s mental health care in north Kerry within two weeks

Minister of state Mary Butler will also visit Kerry in the next 10 days

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Brother of man who died by suicide calling on government to establish mental health A&Es

Brother of man who died by suicide calling on government to establish mental health A&Es

Joe Loughnane's brother, Adam, died two hours after he presented himself as suicidal in the waiting room of the A&E at the University Hospital Galway

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Boy with smartphone indoors. Preteen boy using a phone checking social media. Concept of children using the smartphone

After 23 years of Safer Internet Days, are children any safer?

Governments say the era of self-regulation is over, but until we tackle the 'launch first, figure out the harm later' thinking, nothing will change, writes Alex Cooney of CyberSafeKids

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Young Girl In Bedroom Worried By Bullying Text Message

Half of children aged 8-12 at risk online with no parental restrictions, survey finds

CyberSafeKids says many children are exposed to the risk of engaging with strangers as it launches its 'Same Rules Apply' campaign

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Using mobile phone

Text helpline sees record number of struggling people make contact

Text service sees spike in conversations about housing problems and loneliness

Sun, 08 Feb, 2026

Family of Cork man who died in prison to feature in documentary on psychiatric care

Family of Cork man who died in prison to feature in documentary on psychiatric care

Andrew Gearns was suffering distressing delusions about being stabbed and had some six risk factors for suicide

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026