CHILDREN are waiting a year or more to be seen by the mental heath services in the Mid West, and waiting lists for an appointment have jumped by more than one third, according to a TD who is calling for immediate action on the situation.
“In CHO3, covering Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary, at the start of the previous government’s tenure, there were 196 people waiting to be seen by CAMHS (the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), fast forward to May 2024 and CHO3 had 234 people waiting to be seen,” said Sinn Fein TD for Limerick, Maurice Quinlivan.
Additional mental health supports are needed in Limerick, Deputy Quinlivan told the Dáil, adding that the enactment of the Mental Health Bill is crucial to the improvement of mental health supports across the state and needs to be acted on and delivered.
“When it comes to mental health, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in assisting people in managing their illness and recovery,” he told the Dáil chamber.
“Unfortunately, over the last number of years young people who are engaging with the CAMHS have faced unacceptable delays, with some waiting over a year to be seen.
“Childhood is fleeting and where help is needed it should be offered as soon as possible. Children deserve better, they deserve better than to be waiting for treatment.”
Deputy Quinlivan added that there is an urgent need for additional services in Limerick and across the country as waiting lists grow.
“Since 2020, the number of young people waiting more than a year for treatment has increased by 145 per cent across the state. These are young people who need support, people whose life is impacted because they are not receiving the support they need.”
The Limerick TD went on to say that “what those who suffer from mental health challenges and those advocating for mental health reform have been waiting for is the enactment of the Mental Health Act”.
“The enactment of this legislation is a commitment in the Programme for Government. It is a vital piece of legislation, the implementation of which we have been seeking for over two and a half years.”
