Children’s Mental Health services fail again. Mark Ward TD

Children’s Mental Health services fail again.

Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has echoed calls by the Children’s Rights Alliance, that Government is failing in child and youth mental health.

Deputy Ward was speaking following the publishing of the Children’s Rights Alliance annual report card where the Government received an E grade in children’s mental health for the third year in a row.

Teachta Ward said:

“This is the third year in a row that Minister Butler and the Government have received an E grade for Children’s mental health from the Children’s Rights Alliance.

“The Government are clearly failing in child and youth mental health.

“Areas that the Children’s Rights Alliance highlighted were the admissions of children to adult psychiatric wards and the unacceptable rise in waiting lists for CAMHS.

“These are issues I have been raising since I was first appointed Sinn Féin Mental Health Spokesperson.

“I am bringing my Bill to regulate CAMHS under the Mental Health Act before the Dáil next Tuesday.

“This is the first step in answering the many reports in CAMHS and implementing the necessary changes to deliver quality care for our young people.

“There is a lot more that needs to be done to improve youth mental health.

“The longer this Government is in place, the worse things get.

“The Government is consistent in failing, Sinn Féin is consistent in providing solutions.

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