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Mental Health Services Report

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2014

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Questions (677, 698)

Billy Timmins

Question:

677. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health his views of correspondence (details supplied) regarding mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29019/14]

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Billy Timmins

Question:

698. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Mental Health Commission Annual Report 2013, Chairman’s foreword in which he states in relation to younger service users, there is still a most unsatisfactory situation whereby children are being admitted to adult units, there were 91 (22.3% of all child admissions) such admissions in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29206/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 677 and 698 together.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are benefitting significantly from the funding provided by the Government to develop mental health services. This amounts to €766 million in 2014, including additional funding of €20 million this year, as part of total additional funding of €90 million made available since 2012 for new service initiatives. By the end of 2014, upwards of 1,100 new posts will be put in place, to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children and to develop other specialist mental health services.

A Vision for Change recommended the establishment of 99 multi-disciplinary Child and Adolescent Mental Health teams to provide acute secondary mental health care in the community. There are now 68 CAMHS teams in place, compared to 54 in 2008. The additional funding in 2012-2014 is being used, in part, to expand and enhance the skill mix of these teams. Around 230 new post were allocated to CAMHS over 2012-13 and recruitment is well advanced. The increasing demands being placed on our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services were reflected in the 14,000 or so to CAMHS teams in 2013. This was nearly 1,000, or 8% more, than projected in the HSE National Service Plan last year. However, the target of 70% of referrals being seen within 3 months was maintained.

The reduction in the numbers of children admitted to adult acute in-patient facilities has been a focus for HSE Mental Health services for the last numbers of years, and progress in this area has been extensive. In 2008, only 25% of admissions of children to HSE acute in-patient units were to age appropriate facilities. By 2013, this had increased to 68% of admissions, and all efforts are being directed towards reducing this significantly in the future.

It should be noted that the HSE also funds a range of non-statutory agencies, such as Jigsaw which receives about €1.5million annually, on a partnership basis each year to help maximise tailored and flexible services for young people.

In February last, the Department of Education published a guide to developing student support teams in post primary schools. This is an important resource for schools in promoting and protecting students' well-being, and an aid to establishing a team or reviewing an existing team. I would also refer the Deputy to the Minister for Education and Skills regarding implementation of the guidelines "Well Being in Primary Schools", which comes under his aegis, and regarding the issue of supports in schools generally.

The recent annual report of the Mental Health Commission, referred to by the Deputy, will be fully borne in mind by the Department of Health, and the HSE, in the context of further improving policies and services for children and adolescents.

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