Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Approximately 4,500 children are waiting for their first appointment with child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, including hundreds in my constituency of Wicklow. Thousands of children are struggling every day with anxiety and with going to school. They are self-harming, have suicidal ideation and are struggling with eating disorders. Thousands of parents have to sit and watch their children go through this. We heard this morning from Families for Reform of CAMHS and it is clear that the CAMHS system is not working. It is not just me or these parents saying this; the head of the Mental Health Commission said the same at an Oireachtas committee recently. The CAMHS report has 49 recommendations. What progress has been made with that? Will the Government task the Mental Health Commission with the role of independently monitoring the implementation of these recommendations?

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