Children’s mental health is in crisis and is not being prioritised by the Minister for Health, the Children’s Rights Alliance has claimed. 

Last year, there were just under 4,000 children waiting to be seen by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and 218 had been waiting for 18 months. 

Tanya Ward, CEO of the Children’s Rights Alliance, said while waiting lists make headlines, there are also issues with the quality of care children receive from CAMHS. 

“There’s also issues with supervision,” she told The Hard Shoulder. 

“There’s also issues with some children being put on medication that’s not being monitored and it doesn’t have to be that way because we know that when children do get good access to a good service, it’s life-changing for them.” 

A teenage girl sitting alone near the sea. Image: Gary Hider / Alamy Stock Photo

Ms Ward believes these issues could be fixed if there was enough political will. 

“The thing that I think is really behind it is, number one it’s not top of the list [for] the Minister for Health or the CEO of the HSE,” she said. 

“It should be one of the top three issues and it’s not - it’s way down the list. 

“It just hasn’t had the attention of decision makers. 

“There have been some proposals in the past that haven’t gone anywhere but what really gets me is that we’re after COVID, where young people and children really paid the price of these school closures, and a lot of them have really regressed emotionally and socially… We’re hearing directly from young people themselves and families and parents about just not being able to get access to the services.” 

The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.