17% rise in number of mental health treatment referrals

More than a quarter of all new child and adolescent referrals for mental health treatment in the past year have been due to self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

The fourth annual Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Report, published by the HSE yesterday, also shows a 17% increase in the number of referrals from October last year to the end of September this year.

There was an 8% rise in the number of adolescents waiting to be seen at the end of last September, compared to the same stage last year.