Public invited to comment on children's mental health services

The six-week public consultation is especially focused on hearing from children, young people, parents, families, and carers. Stock picture

Mon, 13 Jul, 2026 - 00:53

Niamh Griffin

The public has been asked to comment on the first national standards for children’s mental health services, describing what high-quality care should look like.

Draft standards for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) are open from today for a six-week public consultation.

The Mental Health Commission has called on parents and young people to help shape the standards.

Its authority was recently expanded to take in Camhs, meaning the services will be assessed and inspected.

This will cover in-patient and community services.

The commission hopes feedback will help it identify key areas for further development.

It especially hopes to hear from children, young people, parents, families, and carers.

It also wants to hear from professionals working in Camhs, including multidisciplinary team members, advocates and peer supporters, as well as providers of mental health services. The commission’s chief executive, John Farrelly, said:

We are urging parents, families, and young people from right across the State to read these draft standards and provide their feedback.

“Their experiences and views will be central to shaping Camhs standards that uphold dignity, autonomy, and human rights, and help ensure that children and young people across Ireland can access high-quality mental health care.”

Camhs supports children with moderate to severe mental illness.

Now, under the Mental Health Act 2026, there is a broad legal framework for it.

Under the legislation, community-based Camhs will be regulated by the commission.

This change is expected to make sure children get “high-quality, rights-based care that upholds their dignity, autonomy, and human rights,” the commission added.

The draft standards have about 70 statements setting out what care should look like now and in the future.

People are asked to comment on how easy it is to understand the standards as well as make suggestions for improvements.

The commission especially wants to hear if anything is missing or standards should be clearer, it said.

Some standards focus on medication, including guidelines for prescribing. Others cover guidelines on consent, including that the child or their guardian is aware of any potential risks from new medicines.

Other standards focus on emergency care, with one stating this should be given in “a safe, suitable environment by trained and supported staff”.

The survey is on the Mental Health Commission website at the link: New draft standards for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) Public Consultation | Mental Health Commission.