Almost 400 children waiting on mental health list

FIANNA Fáil TD for Sligo-Leitrim Eamon Scanlon has expressed serious concern that there are almost 400 children in the North West waiting for a mental health appointment.

It follows the publication of waiting times for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - 389 children are waiting for an appointment, with 103 on the list for over a year.

Deputy Scanlon said: “I have been highlighting this issue for some time and it is truly shocking that the North West region has the second highest waiting list in the whole of the country.

“The HSE says it is “currently experiencing difficulties with the recruitment and retention of consultant CAMHS psy- chiatrists”- this is simply not good enough. Minister Daly and his Cabinet colleagues cannot continue to claim that mental health is a priority, when the situation on the ground reveals an entirely different scenario. Until they wake up to the seriousness of the situation and begin recruiting and resourcing the area, children will continue to be put at risk.” SEE ALSO PG 19