Trust in HSE mental health services for children 'deeply shaken' by Camhs report

Some 79% of children were given medication under North Kerry Camhs in 2023, compared to a national rate of 39%.

'Our children deserve to feel safe when they ask for help,' said Hannah Ní Ghiolla Mhairtín, from the group Families for Reform of Camhs. File Picture.

Families’ trust in HSE mental health services for children has been “deeply shaken” by a report centred on the north Kerry service, with over half the children surveyed found to be at risk.

Some 79% of the 374 children were given medication during their time under North Kerry Camhs, compared to a national rate of 39% identified by the HSE in 2023.

Some 60% were given sleep medication compared to a national average of 24%, among other inconsistencies.

Children’s records only showed discussion of consent or discussion of risks in five cases.

The report, led by Dr Colette Haplin, found that 94% of the children with an intellectual disability were prescribed psychotropic medication generally. 

In most cases, no signs were found of alternative treatments offered. 

One child in the general group was prescribed the antipsychotic risperidone for 93 months, with an average use of 22 months — far exceeding national guidelines, which recommend treatment for up to six weeks only.

Prolonged or inappropriate use of these medicines can have negative effects, particularly if taken at the wrong dose or for the wrong reasons.

Among children with ADHD, one was prescribed a stimulant medication for over eight years, with little evidence of monitoring.

'Not just figures on a page'

Hannah Ní Ghiolla Mhairtín, from the group Families for Reform of Camhs, said: “These are not just figures on a page. They are our children who were already struggling and who turned to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for help.” 

Many families in this advocacy group are among those in the report.

“For them, this report is not abstract — it reflects lived experiences, unanswered questions, and ongoing worry about the impact on their children,” she said.

Ms Ní Ghiolla Mhairtín said that, for example, 'moderate harm' for children means “months of worsening mental health, distress, side effects from treatment, and disruption to school and family life". 

These parents trusted the HSE, but “that trust has been deeply shaken”, she said.

Ms Ní Ghiolla Mhairtín called for an end to reports and apologies, saying accountability and urgent reform are now needed.

“Our children deserve to feel safe when they ask for help,” she said.

Treatment 'disgraceful'

Many affected families are represented by Keith Rolls, a partner at Coleman Legal. He is also working with children in south Kerry, whose care was criticised in the Maskey Review in 2022.

“The contents of the report are shocking and upsetting, to say the least,” he said, adding: “The inappropriate treatment vulnerable patients received was nothing short of disgraceful."

He said: “The affected individuals have suffered enough, and a compensation scheme, similar to the South Kerry compensation scheme, needs to be incorporated immediately to ensure they are not subjected to any further distress."

Irish Medical Organisation vice-president and psychiatrist Professor Matthew Sadlier warned: “At the heart of this issue are poor governance and under-resourcing of mental health services. 

“None of the teams in north Kerry was staffed at appropriate levels, denying patients the high-quality standard of care they needed.” 

Dr Halpin’s report noted that some changes have already been made.

A new Kerry Camhs information line is open at 1800 700 700 or 01 240 87 87.