Bernard Allen
Ceist:94 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether it is correct to have adolescents treated in adult psychiatric units; and the plans he has to address this situation. [16375/01]
Written Answers. - Mental Health Services.
Children aged 16 to 18 years are currently treated by the adult psychiatric services. However the placement of children of this age in adult psychi atric facilities is increasingly seen as inappropriate.
I established a working group on child and adolescent psychiatry to review services and make recommendations on how these services should be developed in the short, medium and long-term. In its first report, published in March 2001, the group recommended that a total of seven child and adolescent inpatient units for children ranging from six to 16 should be developed throughout the country. A sub-group of the working group is now being established to examine the service needs of persons between 16 and 18 years. This sub-group consists of experts from the fields of adult and child psychiatry and it will examine how the needs of 16 to 18 year olds should be addressed in the context of future service developments.