Amnesty ‘concerned’ over children’s mental health services

AMNESTY International Ireland (AII) said it is “gravely concerned” about the lack of adequate mental health services for children in Ireland.

Following reports that 20 children who were placed in the care of the state have died over a six-year period, including five young people who died from drug overdoses and two from suicide, executive director of AII Colm O’Gorman said mental health teams suffer from grave shortages in basic staffing.

“New, child-appropriate, facilities have been promised since expert group reports in 2001 and 2003, and four were promised in A Vision for Change, but none have yet begun construction,” he said.

“Between November 2006 and December 2007, 216 children had to be admitted to adult units, in contravention of the convention on the rights of the child.” In September last year, in a meeting with Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Barry Andrews, AII submitted a briefing on childhood mental health and the education system.

It concludes mental health problems in children are associated with educational disadvantage, disability, offending and anti-social behaviour, placing extra demands on social services, schools and the juvenile justice system.

“It must finally be recognised by Government that investment in the future of children’s mental health is not just required under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, but would also yield enormous benefits for society,” it states.

“Untreated, mental health problems create distress not only in childhood, but pass into adulthood, potentially affecting the mental health of the next generation of children,” the report said.

The UN advises that healthy development and active participation of children is uniquely crucial to the optimum development of any society, and that children are more affected by the action — or inaction — of Government than any other group. According to a spokesman for AII, it is awaiting a response from the minister.

Mr O’Gorman also noted the lack of mental health services with the criminal justice system: “It is shocking that Ireland still does not have a formal system to divert people with mental health problems from the criminal justice system to the mental health services.

“Consequently, many people with mental health difficulties needlessly end up in criminal detention. As far back as 1982 Government promised to deliver four secure units for people who are a risk to themselves or others. In 2006 the promise was five units. In 2008 there were still no units provided.”