The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) today (Thursday 18 th Oct. ) called for an urgent and coherent response from the Minister for Health, Simon Harris and the HSE to address the deficiencies in the mental health services available to children and adolescents throughout the country identified in the Report of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) published on Wednesday.
PNA General Secretary, Peter Hughes said : ‘This important Report makes for disturbing reading, but its findings will come as no surprise to those who have been identifying the inadequacy, and in some parts of the country the complete absence, of CAMHS services which is impacting hugely on young people, their families and the wider community.
Mr Hughes said PNA fully agreed with the Seanad Report's key finding that, ‘There is a chronic lack of standardised services and a lack of clarity surrounding the operation of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Ireland, particularly from the perspective of service users'.
‘Even within the context of mental health services that are under staffed and lack resources our CAMHS services have been particularly neglected and come nowhere near the level of service and investment set out in Vision for Change , the now eleven year old government strategy for the development of mental health services. The Seanad Report once again sets out the road map that must now be followed ungently by the Minister to deliver properly staffed and resourced CAMHS services for the entire country.'
Media Contact: Derek Cunningham 086-2430535
