Lack of adolescent psychiatrists highlighted

DESPITE one in five children suffering from mental or behavioural disorders, Ireland has just one third of the required number of child and adolescent psychiatrists.

Instead of the 150 consultant staff needed to treat more than 177,000 children under the age of 15 with mental health problems, we have just 62 child and adolescent psychiatrists.

There are just 20 in-patient beds for those under 16 instead of the recommended 156, even though 71,000 children have moderate to severe mental problems.