Mark Ward calls for support for autistic people within CAMHS

Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson for Mental Health, Mark Ward TD has called for increased support for children with autism within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

The call for reform comes after a presentation by the advocacy group “Families for the Reform of CAMHS” was delivered to members of the Oireachtas.

Since 2020, 25,000 children referred to CAMHS have been turned away from the service, which Ward says raises “serious concerns about the accessibility and inclusivity of the mental health services provided for young individuals.”

Ward said “this week, I invited Families for Reform of CAMHS into the Oireachtas to address elected representatives and staff, this group is made up of over 400 families across the state and they are growing every week.”

The families discussed their first-hand experiences within the CAMHS system, and discussed how services are tailored to young people with autism.

The statistics presented by Families for the Reform of CAMHS showed that 59% of their members had a child diagnosed with autism, and a further 85% felt that this diagnosis negatively affected the service and support their child received.

Autistic children, it was noted, are 28 times more likely to contemplate suicide, and 70% of them are believed to have a dual diagnosis of a mental health disorder.

Ward stated that autistic children in CAMHS with a “primary diagnosis of Autism” are currently excluded from accessing supports from the pilot phase of the CAMHS Hub program, despite having already met the threshold for moderate/severe mental health issues.

“Why are they denied this service?” Ward asked, seeking answers from Minister Mary Butler and urging a change in this practice.

He also revealed his efforts to ascertain how many of the 25,000 children who refused CAMHS treatment since 2020 have since been diagnosed with autism.

“The powerful testimonies that we heard this week, and the dedicated work being carried out by this group is a wake-up call for the Government to increase their efforts to improve CAMHS services,” he said.