Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A formal Bill will be drafted by the Office of the Attorney General. I expect to introduce the legislation to the Oireachtas as early as possible in 2022. Updating the Mental Health Act is a priority for the Government and for me. I am glad that the Deputy mentioned detention for those under 18 years. I understand that 27 people under the age of 18 have been admitted to an adult psychiatric unit this year. I have recently visited all the child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, units in Ireland. Some 95% of those who were admitted to an adult unit were aged 17 years or over. It is very difficult when, for example, a young girl of 11, 12 or 13 years with an eating disorder is on the same unit as a male of 17 and a half - a man - who may be psychotic. It is in the best interests of the patient to take the best advice at that time, which may be to put him or her into an adult unit.

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