Mental health services: One in three in-need children admitted to adult facilities

One in three children in need of mental health in-patient services were admitted into adult facilities last year.

The figures were uncovered through a parliamentary question asked by Deputy Colm Keaveney, the Fianna Fáil spokesperson for mental health and special needs.

Out-of-hours incidents and having a child in need of immediate attention in parts of the country not near a suitable facility are some of the reasons given for admitting young people to adult units.

Clinical director of Cluain Mhuire in Dublin Siobhan Barry said better funding for community health could help to avoid crisis situations leading to in-patient care.

"Overall investment in child and adolescent mental health needs to be at a secondary care level, in other words in community-based mental health teams so you can avoid situation reaching that crisis where in-patient care is needed," she said.