should have seen mental health tsunami coming

Unless you’ve been living on Mars, you’ll know that a report by the Mental Health Commission has highlighted a litany of deficits across the board in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

These revelations are damning, bringing into clear focus the fact that our health service is not just struggling, it’s also failing to pro- vide even the most basic of care for children who’re anxious, have an eating disorder or who are selfharming, etc., and to the families battling to help them.

It’s all very well for the HSE to say, (on foot of this report), that it’s now taking steps to address ‘many’ of the issues highlighted; but isn’t it a bit late for them to be getting the finger out?

We all know that when it comes to our mental health, a prompt diagnosis, early intervention and continuous monitoring by a specialised professional is not just key in reducing the progress of a potential lifelong issue, it’s also critical; especially as any delay could in some cases possibly prove fatal.

I do understand that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and its fallout has brought a litany of new mental health-related concerns and issues to the fore. I imagine many of these symptoms may have developed (or progressed) in children and teens due to the lack of socialisation and a disruption in their education and sporting activities.

However, shouldn’t HSE bigwigs and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly have seen this tsunami coming? Please correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t forecasting, preparing, planning and structuring all part of our government’s Sharing the Vision – A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, 2020-2030 plan? Maybe the email went into their Spam folders!

I don’t know about you readers, but as a parent/grandparent, and as a human being, I find it an absolute disgrace that vulnerable children and teens experiencing any form of psychotic episodes, behavioural issues, depression or generalised anxiety, etc., are effectively getting lost in a system that’s clearly not fit for purpose.

Instead of Tánaiste Micheál Martin joining in the chorus of ‘ooohing’ and ‘aaahing’, and describing the report’s findings as ‘unacceptable’, it’s my opinion his time would be better served ascertaining exactly what went wrong, who fizzed up, and then sacking their incompetent backsides with immediate effect!

Carol Vorderman