Waiting list continues to grow for children to gain access to mental health services

A review of 374 cases published last month found that more than half of those children faced risks of varying levels. It found that two children were at major risk, 195 cases involved moderate risk, and 12 children faced minor risk. File picture

The number of children waiting to access mental health services across the country has surpassed 4,500, as the number of youths left languishing on waiting lists continues to rise.

The waiting list has surged in the last two months, with 587 children now waiting for more than a year to access Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs).

It comes as the HSE South-West announced it will expand its review of Camhs in north Kerry to cover all children seen before November 2022.

A review of 374 cases published last month found that more than half of those children faced risks of varying levels. It found that two children were at major risk, 195 cases involved moderate risk, and 12 children faced minor risk.

New figures seen by the Irish Examiner show that the number of children waiting for a Camhs appointment across the country is continuing to rise.

Data provided by the HSE to Pádraig Rice, Social Democrats TD for Cork South-Central and chairman of the Oireachtas Health Committee, confirmed there were 4,587 children across the country on a Camhs waiting list at the end of January.

This is up from 4,375 children at the end of November and 4,047 children at the end of September.

Of the 4,587 children on lists at the end of January, 587 had been waiting more than a year for an appointment. In the HSE South-West region, which provides services to Cork and Kerry, 328 youths were waiting for more than 12 months.

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There are also 559 children waiting for an appointment for more than nine months, while 774 children were waiting between six and nine months.

Mr Rice told the Irish Examiner that the increase in the number of children waiting for mental health appointments is “deeply concerning”.

“These are some of the most vulnerable children in the State, and they are being utterly failed. Report after report has identified serious issues in Camhs, and yet the same access issues persist.

“Almost three years on from the Mental Health Commission’s damning review of Camhs, its primary recommendation has still not been implemented — the immediate and independent regulation of Camhs. There can be no excuse for this.”

North Kerry Camhs

Elsewhere, the HSE South-West said it is “commissioning a comprehensive clinically-led further file review covering the period during which it had governance of Camhs in North Kerry".

This extends to all cases open to the service up to November 21, 2022. The HSE confirmed the review will start from 2014, when it first took over the Camhs team in north Kerry. It is not yet clear how many children might be involved.

The HSE advised the review will be “directed specifically on areas where the potential for harm is deemed greatest in the first instance".

It will focus on children/young people with a diagnosis of mental health and intellectual disability, children/young people prescribed neuroleptic (antipsychotic) medication, as well as children or young people receiving high-dose psychotropic medication.