Psychology waiting lists jump by 102% since 2020, research finds

Waiting lists for primary care psychology have jumped 102% since 2020 according to new statistics.

21,132 people were on a waiting list for primary care psychology in February 2024, a jump from 10,466 in February 2020.

18,588 of those waiting for a psychology appointment are children with 7500 of these children waiting over a year.

Primary care psychology provides services for people who are experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties or mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

Despite the last three Taoiseachs in a row having served as Minsiter for Health at various stages, Sinn Féin spokesperson for Mental Health, Mark Ward TD has said Government has “failed” children.

The Dublin-Mid West TD said “waiting lists for mental health services are only going one way under this Government and that is up!”

He noted that the current Government was elected in February 2020, but waiting lists have only shot up since then.

“When this Government took office, 10,466 people were waiting for a first-time primary care psychology appointment; this now stands at 21,132 which is a 102% increase.”

He called the jump in waiting lists a “systemic failure” by Government.

“Having one child waiting over a year for vital mental health services is not good enough but having 7,500 is a systemic failure,” he said.

“We have seen the number of young people waiting on specialist CAMHS appointments rising over the same period from just over 2,000 to now just under 4,000 waiting.”

He said that the failure of the system is leading to pressure on CAMHS.

“If young people get the care, they need at primary care level than they are less likely to need the more acute services of CAMHS,” Ward said.

Ward noted that there have been redundancies at the mental health service Jigsaw owing to a shortfall in funding.

“Young people are let down at every stage of mental health care and are left behind by Government,” he said.

“Behind every waiting list figure is a young person with hopes and dreams; these children are denied their right to reach their full potential.”

Ward said that his party have proposed solutions to the issue, such as universal counselling in primary care on GP referral, as well as the funding of a national psychology placement office and funding trainee counselling and education psychologists in line with trainee psychiatrists.

“To be able to tackle waiting lists, you need to provide a service and the staff to deliver that service. Sinn Féin understands this and has funded this in our comprehensive alternative budget for 2024,” he noted.

“What we need now is a change of Government. We need Sinn Féin Ministers for Health and Mental Health that will prioritise early intervention in mental health and delivering services in a timely manner.”