Ms Ashling Dunphy:

I reiterate what Karina said about CAMHS. I was given worksheets at the age of 15. I was a 15-year-old who wanted to save the world and they asked me questions like whether I went out to play, whether I did my homework and whether I ate my lunch. I thought, "I am 15; what do you mean, do I go out and play?". I found it really frustrating. I researched it and found it was cognitive behavioural therapy suitable for eight- to 12-year-olds so 15-year-old Ashling decided that she would just not engage. I am taking a year out from studying community and youth work in Maynooth. It might be naive of me but I do not think it is not the professionals' fault when that is all that is available to them. They have young people with various serious needs but they are stretched beyond their means, they are tired and they are burned out. Youth work and community services generally become what they are not meant to be- those involved become the counsellors. CAMHS might tell me that they will not see me because I am an adult but a youth worker will never turn someone away. We need to start looking at that because youth workers will start walking away - they will say that they are not paid for this and that what they are being asked to do is not on their job description. We need to look at that as a whole. Myself and Karina are 21 now. We have been advocating on this since we were in transition year. If we are not having the same conversations, it is a conversation about emigrating. That is the reality. It is not very positive but that is the reality for young people in the Ireland of today.