Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When our young people and children ask for help we should be able to give them the support they need. We are very lucky to live in a society that has become far more open about mental health and mental health struggles. It is good to see a generation of young people are growing up who are willing to speak out and say when they need support. It is devastating, therefore, to see so many children failed by the very body that is meant to help them. Different issues with CAMHS have been laid bare again in recent weeks. We need to see urgent action to ensure that children and adolescents get immediate care when they need it.

CHO 2 covers some of the west, including Galway. It is deeply disturbing that in November last, there were 247 children on waiting lists in CHO 2, with 40 of them waiting over 39 weeks, including eight who had been waiting over a year. In 2023, we are all well aware that early intervention is crucial. It is heartbreaking to see children and their parents left waiting, not knowing where they are supposed to turn. It is part of a larger issue with mental health supports in Galway. Jigsaw services in the county have a waiting time of 17 weeks, the third longest waiting time in the State. It is deeply concerning that the position is so bad in CAMHS and Jigsaw.

It is important that we make clear to families and children that they should turn to these supports in their times of need but we also need to ensure we are dealing with the issues. Tuigeann muintir na Gaillimhe cé chomh deacair is atá sé an chabhair a dteastaíonn ónár bpáistí agus ónár daoine óga a fháil ó CAMHS. Tá sé feicthe agam go bhfuil 247 páiste ar líostaí feithimh, le 40 acu ann níos faide ná 39 seachtain, agus ochtar acu ann níos mó ná bliain. Nuair atá a fhios againn cé chomh tábhachtach is atá idirghabháil luath, tá sé dochreidte go bhfuil sé seo ag tarlú agus is rud maith é go bhfuil daoine óga sásta labhairt faoi na deacrachtaí meabhairshláinte atá acu. Áfach, caithimid a chinntiú go bhfuil na seirbhísí ann dóibh, na seirbhísí Jigsaw agus CAMHS san áireamh, agus caithimid a chinntiú go bhfuil siad in ann an chabhair a dteastaíonn uathu a fháil.

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