We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
A TOTAL OF 32 CHILDREN have been admitted to adult mental health units so far this year.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed the data in answer to a recent parliamentary question, stating that the children were admitted between 1 January and 20 June this year.
In a letter to Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly, the HSE said it is “committed to age appropriate placement and to the minimisation of the number of admissions of children to adult units”.
However, it acknowledged that “in exceptional circumstances, it will continue to be necessary, where there is a clear clinical imperative, to admit a small number of children to adult units, for the shortest time possible”.
It added that all admissions of young people under the age of 18 years are notified to the Mental Health Commission (MHC) in accordance with regulations.
O’Reilly said the practice of placing children and adolescents in adult psychiatric units is “completely unacceptable”.
“The children and young people who are placed in these facilities are already in an incredibly difficult place with their mental health and this practice can have a further detrimental effect,” she said, adding:
These admissions happen due to capacity issues and staffing deficits in the health service – they are the result of failures in the management of the health service at the very top.
This practice needs to be overhauled and addressed with urgency – it is completely unfair on the children and on the staff, and it has no place in the health service in 2019.
Last year, the MHC’s annual report indicated an increase in the placement of children and adolescents in adult mental health units.
In 2018, there were 84 admissions to 18 adult units. Eleven of the admissions last year were for less than 48 hours. The majority of children were aged 16 and 17 years of age.
In 2017, 82 children under the age of 18 were admitted to adult units.
The Commission’s Chairperson John Saunders said in the report that the placement of any child in any adult unit indicates a gap in service provision.
“A child or adolescent’s first introduction to mental health care should not be through a service or building that is not specifically equipped to deal with their needs,” he said.
The Commission said the reason for the majority of admissions to adult units is due to an immediate risk to the young person or others, or due to the lack of a bed in a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) unit.
“There are only CAMHS units in three counties nationally, and they generally do not take out-of-hours admissions. Children and young people in crisis are left with the unacceptable ‘choice’ between an emergency department, general hospital, children’s hospital, or an adult in-patient unit,” said the annual report.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Good .. they were taken care of .. better than not treating them .. needs must ..
@John Kelly: I wonder if they have to deal with abuse from older patients? That would be tough to cope with on top of their own health issues.
The fact that this is today’s least read and commented article says it all, really.
No child should be in an adult physchiatric it’s not appropriate setting and the impact it has on a child’s mental health on top off there eown struggles has a detrimental impact on a child’s mental health and I don’t see how drugging children up the eyeballs and leaving them zombied is helpful and I have my own personal experience and it is no place for a child to be and exposed to stuff they witness its a scary place but wen it hits people in the personal life they might realise its not helpful
@Jessica Campbell: it’s people like yourself who are the people who can educate others on the dangers this practice has on the children involved. Children should be treated in an age appropriate facility, without medicating them to the point that they cant participate un tge most simple activities. Medication should only be used after all other holistic therapies have been exhausted.. too many doctors and mental health specialists are too quick to whip out a prescription pad instead of trying a more hollistic and natural approach, this goes for adult and children alike.
100% in agreement. Adult psychiatric services are no place for children. These children deserve better & deserve to be treated in specialised facilities appropriate for their ages
@Irene Henry: reply to Jessica Campbell
How is that good?? There should be more age appropriate facilities for these children. There are adults with severe mental health issues in these places and you think it’s good for young children to be treated there. Let’s hope a child of yours never ends up in one of these places, they are not nice places for adults, never mind vulnerable children.
@Paula Kearney: @John Kelly.. above reply was aimed to John Kelly
have your say