Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have raised the issue of mental health services provision on several occasions. Given that A Vision for Change has come to an end, what is the proposed next step? Will an alternative programme be put in place? A report issued today by the National Suicide Research Foundation shows that in the seven years from 2007 to 2015, the number of men reporting self-harming behaviour in County Leitrim increased by 133%, with an increase of 117% for women. The figures are similar in many areas across the country. The child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, in particular, have been starved of resources, despite the many young teenagers presenting in urgent need of assistance. The "RTE Investigates" programme last night dealt specifically with waiting lists but, at the same time, mental health services throughout the State are in disarray. What will be done to address this problem?

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