“Scant progress” being made on CAMHS reform, says Ward

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward has called the progress on the Mental Health Commission’s recommendations for CAMHS “scant”.

The Dublin Mid-West TD was speaking after receiving a parliamentary question response with a progress report on the 49 recommendations that were made by the Mental Health Commission 12 months ago.

Ward said it has been 12 months since the Mental Health Commission published 49 recommendations, but only 10 of them have been completed.

“The first two recommendations, for CAMHS to be regulated under the Mental Health Act 2001, and for the Commission to monitor and do a year report on these recommendations, have not been started,” he said.

“I brought legislation to the Dáil in February of this year that would implement both of these recommendations. The Government shamefully kicked this down the road in favour of their own Bill which has not materialised. There is no urgency by Government to fix the crisis in youth mental health.”

He noted that one of the recommendations laid out was to increase the CAMHS budget, but Ward said that CAMHS has seen little investment by the Minister for Health.

“The HSE, this week, have said that CAMHS staff will need to double to deliver the timely interventions that are needed, while the Government are determined to keep the HSE recruitment embargo in place,” he noted.

“The recommendations made by the Mental Health Commission were brought about because children were being misdiagnosed, over medicated, falling off that cliff edge at 18. We also have children with a dual diagnosis of autism and mental health, falling through the cracks.”

He said that “CAMHS needs to be a safe place for children to get help, and the vast majority of staff are working to their best of their ability.”

“It was, however, worrying that this week a child psychiatrist pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child under the care of CAMHS. This comes just after the Mental Health Commission’s annual report where it stated 42 people reported sexual assaults whilst in mental health facilities.

“The Government are failing to provide the appropriate care in  our mental health services and this cannot be allowed to continue.”