Staffing in child mental health teams has risen

Your editorial (‘Mental health system — Time for a radical overhaul’, March 27) rightly highlights the fact that community mental health teams for children and adolescents are struggling with increased demand.

However, the Children’s Mental Health Coalition was incorrect to say that staffing fell in 2014. Figures given to Mental Health Reform, by the HSE, show that government investment increased staff by 47 in community teams in 2014. This brings staffing levels for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to 51.6% of the levels recommended in ‘A Vision for Change’, in 2006, though it is still far below what is needed.

While the increase in staffing and prioritisation of children’s mental health services are welcome, waiting lists remain significantly high, so that children in distress have longer to wait for support. At the end of December, 2014, there were 405 children and adolescents waiting more than 12 months — that’s 14% of the waiting list.