81% increase in waiting times for CAMHS appointments since 2020, Ward reveals

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has described the increase in waiting lists for CAMHS first-time appointments as a “disgrace.”

Statistics obtained by Ward found there has been an 81% increase in young people waiting for first-time appointments since the Government was formed in 2020.

Nationally, there are 3842 young people currently waiting for appointments with CAMHS, with the figure standing at 2115 at this stage in 2020.

Out of the 3842 statistic, 491 of these children have been waiting for over a year for CAMHS services, an increase of 223 compared to the same time period in 2020.

“It is unacceptable for one young person to be waiting over a year let alone 491 children,” Ward said.

“CAMHS is for young people with moderate to severe mental health problems and children with dual diagnosis of mental health and ASD are falling through the cracks.

“Those children with ADHD are often the children left longest on the waiting list, and whilst there has been a some decrease recently in waiting times the overall picture is stark,” he said.

“We have now had several damming reports by the Mental Health Commission into CAMHS. The most recent report the Mental Health Commission made 49 recommendations to improve CAMHS services for patients, parents, and staff.”

“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,” he noted.

Ward noted that CAMHS is only for a “small percentage” of children in the population, for those with moderate to acute mental health problems.

“However, if children do not get the early intervention they need, they are going to need the more acute services,” he said.

“This Minister was appointed in July 2020 when the number of children waiting on a first-time appointment with CAMHS was 2115. An 81% increase under her watch is a disgrace; this government have failed our most vulnerable children.

“We can all get lost in statistics but behind each statistic is a young person, with hope, dreams and ambitions who are being denied by this Government the opportunity to reach their full potential.”