Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth publishes its report on CAMHS and Dual Diagnosis

Speaking on the Report, Deputy Kathleen Funchion, Cathaoirleach of the Committee said “Despite the heroic efforts of many working in the sector, disability and mental health supports are not currently being adequately provided by the State, nor have they been for some time. This represents a serious infringement of people’s rights and persists, despite increased investment and what appears to be an endless stream of new protocols, pilots, policies, reconfigurations, action plans and road maps.

The Cathaoirleach added “Of particular concern for the purposes of this report, is dual diagnosis and the extra challenges that young people with a mental health need, who are either autistic or experiencing addiction/substance abuse, have accessing support.

Deputy Funchion said “This failure in accessing the necessary supports is evidenced by extremely long waitlists, people going to court to have their rights to interventions upheld, others emigrating, reports of parents deferring to Tusla because they cannot cope due to inadequate support.

Deputy Funchion said “Because of the slow pace of action in this area, several overdue reforms, especially those aimed at improving supports for those with a dual diagnosis, are only now in their infancy. Lives are literally on the line and a failure to introduce immediate and meaningful measures now is a failure to do all we can to prevent young lives being lost.”

Read the Report on CAMHS and Dual Diagnosis

Some of the key recommendations included in the Report are:

·       An immediate top-up of funding, separate to the existing budgetary allocation, of €25M should be provided for further implementing Sharing the Vision.

·       Separate funding of no less than €25M should be provided immediately for resourcing organisations in the community and voluntary sector that provide mental health supports and general youth support services, as these are key to prevention and early intervention.

·       More meaningful, ambitious and measurable targets should be set in relation to mental health. The improved targets should revolve around waiting lists, but just as importantly, around satisfaction among parents and young people, good standards of care and positive outcomes for users of CAMHS.

·       Changes in hours, pay and tax should be implemented as tools to recruit and retain workers in the health services, disability services and social services sectors.

·       Pathways to quickly developing graduates and upskilling experts in relevant fields must be activated and capitalised on as a matter of urgency to address the staffing crisis in health, disability and social services.

·       CAMHS should be exempt from any ongoing and future recruitment freezes.

Read more about the work carried out by The Joint Committee on Children,Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth