Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Even accessing the service can be difficult. I am a GP and if I see a teenager who may be depressed or have an anxiety disorder, and I am sure the Chairman will agree with me, I send the patient off and refer him or her in good faith. Often the team reviewing the referral states it is inappropriate. One professional doctor refers somebody who genuinely needs help and the referral is undermined. Sometimes doctors are accused of not even having seen the patient and that they discussed the situation with the parents. That is disgraceful.

I have said numerous times in the Seanad, and I have spoken to the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, about it, that access for GPs to a 24 hour emergency phone line to the child and adolescent mental health service with regard to very vulnerable teenagers would be a solution-driven pragmatic approach. It would not be abused. I would probably use it only once a year if I had a case involving a suicidal teenager, instead of sending him or her to the emergency department or having to admit him or her to the adult mental health unit in Castlebar. That unit does great work but it is a dreadful place, particularly for a young person. Undermining referrals from GPs is not good because there is a breakdown of communications between the mental health and community teams. A 24 hour emergency phone line would probably be beneficial and prevent admissions to the acute units.