Seanad Public Consultation Committee publishes report on children’s mental health services

The committee invited submissions from parents, service providers and lobby groups operating within the mental health service in Ireland. In June and July it held public hearings and heard statements from parents, clinicians, members of professional bodies and policy makers. This is the first time the Houses of the Oireachtas have invited in members of the public to voice their experience of mental health services in Ireland.

According to the report, the percentage of the total health budget for mental health has decreased from 13% in 1984 to 7.3% in 2004, to the current 6.1%.

The report makes a number of recommendations on access to mental health services for children, recruitment of nurses and consultants and the monitoring of outcomes.

To read the report, visit the Seanad Public Consultation Committee page.