Wait list for youth mental aid services up 24%

Waiting lists for children and teenagers in need of mental health appointments grew by 24% last year as a surge in demand put services under increased strain.

The practice of admitting children to adult psychiatric units also continued with more than a fifth of all under-18s who needed inpatient care being admitted to adult facilities in contravention of best practice.

Psychiatrist and HSE advisor Brendan Doody said that the figures, revealed in the HSE’s annual report on the community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, had clear implications.