2,300 await youth mental health aid

MORE than 2,300 children and teenagers are waiting to access mental health services in this country — even though this figure has dropped by nearly 10% in the past year.

Out of the planned 99 multidisciplinary child and adolescent mental health teams envisioned by the Government in their 2006 Vision for Change document, just 55 of the teams are now in place.

There is still a huge need for investment in this area according to a new HSE report as staffing on these teams is at 70% of recommended levels and “there is variation in the distribution and disciplinary composition of the workforce across teams and regions”.