Cork, Ireland — Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Cork are facing significant challenges, with over 900 children and teenagers on the waiting list for mental health services as of December 2024. A concerning 40% of these young individuals are waiting for more than a year to receive the help they need.
The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland has pointed to chronic underfunding and under-resourcing as major contributors to these delays. They have called for urgent reform within the CAMHS system to ensure better care for vulnerable youth.
Urgent Reform Needed
Dr. Patricia Byrne, Chairwoman of the Faculty of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, stressed the critical need for reform in CAMHS. She stated, “CAMHS in Ireland has been beset by chronic underfunding and under-resourcing,” highlighting that the system has failed to meet the development needs in line with the Irish government’s mental health policies.
She pointed out the stark contrast between Ireland’s healthy budget surplus and the nation’s inability to properly care for vulnerable young people who urgently need mental health support. According to Dr. Byrne, the current situation is “unconscionable” and needs immediate attention.
Waiting List Data and Concerns
The waiting-list data released at the end of December 2024 revealed that 921 children and teenagers were awaiting mental health services in Cork. Alarmingly, 363 of these young people have been waiting for more than 12 months. These delays are leading to serious concerns about the adequacy of mental health care for youth in the region.
The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland also expressed concern that under-resourced services are putting children at risk of misdiagnosis. Unmet needs are being wrongly attributed to mental health disorders, or youth are being over-prescribed medication instead of receiving appropriate therapy or support through services like disability or educational psychology.
Recommendations for Improvement
The College of Psychiatrists has put forward several key recommendations to address these issues:
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Specialized Training: All staff working in CAMHS should undergo specialist training specific to the needs of child and adolescent psychiatry.
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Leadership Structure: Each CAMHS team should be led by a specialist consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist.
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New Management Roles: The creation of a new senior management position and the establishment of a nationwide network of CAMHS clinical directors to manage both clinical and managerial functions.
Challenges and Criticism
While the recommendations have been welcomed by some, Liam Quaide, Social Democrats Cork East TD and former clinical psychologist, expressed concerns. Quaide acknowledged the issue of under-resourcing but questioned whether psychiatrists should automatically lead CAMHS teams. He emphasized that mental health difficulties in young people are often complex and multi-faceted, and it is common in the UK for some CAMHS teams to be led by professionals from disciplines other than psychiatry.
Furthermore, Quaide raised concerns about clinical accountability being solely attributed to psychiatrists. He argued that disciplines such as social work, occupational therapy, and psychology have their own clinical autonomy and should not be dictated by another discipline.
Conclusion
The situation facing CAMHS in Cork and across Ireland is dire, with long waiting lists and a lack of sufficient resources putting young people’s mental health at risk. While there are calls for immediate reform and increased funding, the debate continues about the most effective way to address the needs of young people in Ireland’s mental health system.
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