Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The mental health services are in a state of flux. The full report on CAMHS published last week laid bare the facts about threadbare services, bad governance and neglect. Many factors came to the fore, including the deterioration of services, the appalling, long waiting lists and the failure to look after our young people who are in danger and need on-the-spot protection, intervention and care.

We all have personal stories to tell, like the mother who came to me about her teenage daughter. She was self-harming and had suicidal ideation. This happened on a Friday night. She was offered a mattress on the floor. In another situation, there was a young girl who had attempted suicide on three occasions in one week and was basically told there was nowhere for her to go and no placement for her, even though the team on the night concluded that she needed to be admitted and medicated. To reach out and ask for help in moments of turmoil is a measure of desperation but also bravery. It is the Government's responsibility to ensure the full suite of supports is available, with a timely, appropriate diagnosis given. This is not happening. Our young people are not receiving the duty of care they need and deserve. Recent figures show there are over 100 people on the waiting list for CAMHS services in County Wexford. The average wait time is almost a year, with some waiting longer. That is 100 families in trouble. Imagine the turmoil, upset and suffering being caused to those people and their families.

This disintegration of services is happening for several reasons. First and foremost, it is because of funding. There must be a multiannual plan to enable CAMHS autonomy in delivering quality care at source. We also need to address training issues and increase the number of graduate places for our next generation of mental health workers. Finally, we need to reinstate a national clinical director for mental health to ensure accountability within mental health services. Why was this position removed in 2016? I am sure every Deputy has stories to tell from their own constituencies about mental health services. We are appealing to the Government first to recognise the seriousness in the deterioration of CAMHS, which is happening right now, and the continuing consequential harm of the existing system, which is not fit for purpose, as stated in the CAMHS report, and is causing young people and their families to lose hope. We hope all Deputies will restore that hope and support this motion.

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