Mental health system - Time for a radical overhaul

DESPITE the much-vaunted promise to cherish all the children of the nation equally, successive governments have been grossly negligent towards young people with mental health problems — the very children who deserve to be cherished above all others. 

Regrettably, the present incumbents have also shown scant regard for their plight.

Naturally, each side of the Fine Gael-Labour coalition has voiced the customary political promise about increasing staffing levels in this dark corner of the health service. Not surprisingly, the cash-strapped regime has so far failed to deliver on that pledge.