Government must support Sinn Féin CAMHS legislation says Ward

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Mental Health, TD Mark Ward has called on the Government to support Sinn Féin legislation to regulate the Children’s and Adolescents Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

The Dublin Mid-West TD said “the latest report by the Mental Health Commission into CAMHS is yet again another damning indictment on how mental health services are provided to our children.”

“Mental health care should be based on need and not where a child lives but that is exactly what these reports highlight,” adding that a “postcode lottery of care has developed under this Government.”

“The Mental Health Commission has made 49 recommendations that the Government must accept and implement to reform CAMHS and improve care to children,” but said that Government has given no commitment to implementing the recommendations.

“Our young people and their families cannot wait, which is why I have introduced legislation to the Bills Office that would give statutory powers to the Mental Health Commission to oversee their recommendations implemented,” Ward said.

“Whilst the Mental Health Commission can make recommendations on governance and clinical reforms in CAMHS they do not have the statutory authority to ensure that these recommendations will be implemented – that is what this legislation will do.”

“I am calling on the Government to support this legislation as empowering the Mental Health Commission with the powers to improve CAMHS is the right thing to do.”

Ward said the report highlighted a large “unacceptable” variation of the numbers of young people waiting for services across Ireland.

Ward relayed the common challenges discovered by the mental health commission, which included governance, budgets, risk management, digital infrastructure, clinical governance, staffing, access, transition to adult services, vulnerable children, integration and adherence to guidelines.

He said that issues were plaguing the service across Ireland.

“This is an issue right across the state. Sinn Féin have a policy to extend CAMHS to the age of 25 and to ensure a seamless transition so that young people do not fall through the cracks and that there is a continuum of care in their mental health.”

“Sinn Féin are taking these reports seriously and are proposing solutions to address them. The longer the Government are in office the worse the problems become. It’s time for change,” he said.