Camhs report shows radical overhaul needed of mental health services for young people

An interim report from the Mental Health Commission exposes so many problems with services for children and young people that a radical overhaul may be required, writes Noel Baker

The sheer number of shortcomings identified leads to heightened risk for the children accessing Camhs. Picture: Concept Illustration, Leader Child

One year on from the publication of the damning report by Dr Sean Maskey, the HSE is still apologising for what happened in South Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. The concern must be that more apologies will be in the offing after a separate review by the Mental Health Commission found the problems extended far beyond the Kingdom.

The report, conducted by Inspector of Mental Health Services, Dr Susan Finnerty, illustrates that — sadly, painfully — Camhs is disjointed, under-resourced, in-demand, a postcode lottery, and quite possibly broken. Pulling everything together and making it the service it aspires to be will take a herculean effort. The findings may also prompt existential questions as to how Camhs is configured.