Call for ‘radical overhaul’ of Camhs service

Commission chief executive John Farrelly, Dr Susan Finnerty, commission board member Tammy Donaghy, and committee chairman Dr John Hillery, in the Mental Health Commission offices as they published their final report on Camhs. Picture: Leah Farrell/Photocall Ireland

A “radical overhaul” of how children’s mental health services operate is needed to let go of ‘old models of service’ so more children can be helped, the Mental Health Commission said.

In a scathing report published today, inspector of mental health services Dr Susan Finnerty said the lack of reform is “propping up a failing system that needs a radical overhaul” in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs). She called for the Commission to be given regulatory authority over Camhs, adding: