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.
IT CAME AS a shock to read the findings of the interim report of the Mental Health Commission (MHC) into the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). A shock to learn that more than 100 children had been left without care for two years. A shock but not a surprise.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin may have described these findings as ‘unacceptable’ but for those of us who work with children and young people, it is an open secret how shamefully their mental health is neglected by those in authority whose very job is to look after children and young people.
CAMHS is without question unfit for purpose. There are many fantastic people working there, but the system is utterly broken and requires nothing less than a radical overhaul.
In the short term, we strongly suggest that there is a rethink of the entire CAMHS service delivery model; children and young people ought to be able to avail of such a service when and where they need it.
For too long, some of the most vulnerable members of our society have been held hostage to government inefficiency. But enough is enough.
We at ISPCC know how the children of Ireland are feeling. We know what is on their minds and how they are coping, and more importantly how they are not coping.
The latter part of 2022 saw our 24/7 Childline Listening Service experience a significant increase in conversations amongst children seeking support in relation to thoughts about suicide, conflict in the home and feelings of low mood and unhappiness.
Anxiety continues to be a topic frequently discussed by children who speak with Childline both online and on the phone.
Over just three days of the Christmas period, volunteers at Childline answered almost 600 online contacts, calls and texts from children and young people across Ireland. One of their main topics of conversation was mental and emotional health.
In 2021, Childline received more than 100,000 contacts from children and young people seeking support throughout the year. It is clear to us that levels of anxiety and depression among children in Ireland are continuing to rise. We are always here for children and young people to offer a listening ear. Children and young people should not feel that they have to cope alone.
The 24-hour active listening service is one of the suites of Childline services provided by ISPCC. It is free, non-judgmental and non-directive. All our services, programmes and supports are focussed on strengthening resilience and developing coping competencies.
Along with our 24-hour support line, we provide Childline Therapeutic Supports, which are in-depth one-to-one support sessions with children, young people and their families over a period of up to six months; a series of Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing programmes from Silvercloud, a leading digital mental health provider; and Smart Moves, an evidence-informed resilience-building programme for sixth class and first-year students making the transition from primary to secondary school.
We speak out and advocate for meaningful change that will enhance their lives today and leave a legacy of improved childhood experiences for future generations of children and young people.
One of the most damning outcomes of the review by the Mental Health Commission is the lack of accountability at all levels. While there has been much handwringing, no one seems prepared to shoulder any of the responsibility for this crisis. It is time to take action.
The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, which was signed into law last year, introduced a senior management liability provision if certain online services fail to meet online safety standards. Surely, it is time that such liability is incorporated into our mental health services?
Children have a right to appropriate care, and at ISPCC we know the importance of prevention and early intervention.
In our experience, not every child who is currently on a CAMHS waiting list should have ended up there. We believe that early intervention services could make a real difference in a child’s life and ensure that many of those on the waiting list no longer need to be there.
We remain firmly convinced that the Youth Mental Health Pathfinder unit must be initiated without further delay to meaningfully tackle the crisis in our mental health services. And, that mental health be a core focus of the next national strategy for children and young people, with funding ring-fenced for universal and targeted services
In light of the Mental Health Commission findings, it is timely that Ireland is being examined by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child this week. Mental health will be a key focus there, as it needs to be at home.
For too long, our children have suffered because those who are in a position to effect meaningful change have decided not to do so. The current crisis will not be the last. The mental health of children and young people needs to stay on the political agenda. We need to keep the pressure on government. It is up to all of us, we all have a voice. Now it is the time to use it on behalf of our children and young people.
John Church is the CEO of the ISPCC. Childline’s 24-hour support line can be contacted for FREE, 365 days a year 24/7. Children can chat online at childline.ie or call 1800 66 66 66.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Nice to hear Sinn Fein comment of Garda pay ,the crowd with sitting TD who collected a Garda killer from jail. Sickening from shinbots.
@Tensing Norgay:
Didn’t the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis give Garda killer McAuley a standing ovation on his release from prison for killing Det McCabe?
And where is McAuley now?
Back in prison for stabbing his wife 15 times.
In this case you can David. It was the at their Ard Fheis
Another cluster F*^k by FG and their coalition partners in FF, quick look over there a Shinner has spoken!!!!!!
@Tensing Norgay: divide and conquer….martial law and thousands of euros of a rise…. we the people suffer at the hands of bulling corruption and a force that would have committed perjury and do it every day ..CITIZENS YOU NOW LIVE IN A COUNTRY that was on the brink of MARTIAL LAW … .
Well if you tar them all with the same brush should we see all FG members as tax evaders as per the party operating standards under the current minister for finance?
Lavbeer: you cant believe whst you are saying . To reiterate ,they have a sitting TD that collected guys who shot garda dead .the appluaded one of those killers at their ard deis , they want to abolish the special criminal court . They are the party of choice criminals with badly tattoded tri colours
No Harry… you live in a country that denys police offers a basic workers rights. If the police are so different and a vital public service well then the govt shouldn’t keep saying they are the exact same as every other civil servant. They need to be a seen as stand alone service. Also I’m wondering why you say the force would commit perjury and do it everyday?
Anyone who stood up an applauded Pierce McCauley at that are fheis can most certainly be tarred with the same brush. How could the leadership think it was acceptable to have a Garda killer treated as a hero? There’s no defending it.
@Brinster: REMEMBER ABBEYLARA SHOOTING……who done it
It’s sf dirty little secret. They are and always will be anti police.
Chilly I don’t know if it’s much of a secret. Anyone with a bit of sense can see it.
*Cholly ……sorry
@Tensing Norgay: Housing crisis,homeless crisis,teachers nurses Gardaí Doctors all threatening to strike and a hospital bed crisis and you talk about SF. Lol at your deflection from the disaster FG have been in Government.
@Tensing Norgay: How many cops did Michael Collins kill.?
Christ. Are you trying to compare Michael Collins to pearse mccauley???
Shows how warped the little brains of shinners are.
M bowe. No one want to talk about how public sector pay rises we can’t afford will be funded and who will be taxed more to it. Quick look over there …..
Garda Daz topaz / shinbot : hah you’re comparing michael collins with murdering cash truck thieves . Sickening even for a shinbotator , although it does show poeple that just beneath the thin veil of decency the shinbot are the party of criminal and gangs
Enda will no doubt be extolling the virtues of Noreens strong leadership and trying to persuade us all that it was her ultimatum made them go in today. Once again FG stumble and blunder their way from one crisis to the next.
@Tony Skillington:
You sound very unhappy that a mutually acceptable deal has been reached, Tony. Wasn’t that the point of it all?
Are you disappointed?
Seems like a lot of people didn’t really care about the Gardai, public trust, public order or the elderly and vulnerable.
All they really cared about was having a chance to bash the Gov. How patriotic.
@Brinster: Shinner types love discord.
@Brinster: FG do not care about elderly have you not seen the savage cuts their austerity has inflicted onto the elderly.? What about when they took medical cards off children with cancer and downs syndrome? Gardaí showed not much regard for the elderly by making them feel threatened by this threatening strike action. Homeless Housing Budget cuts and a hospital crisis and care homes not being up to scratch yes some caring Government we have. This should have been sorted out ages ago. This is going on years it did not have to go down to the wire last night.
I’m not disappointed brinster..my point is that this dispute has been on the radar for months and FG and their witless ‘leader’ just ignored it. This is fast becoming a common feature with FG with leaving it to the last minute. The commissioner shags off to America on some juncket in the midst of this and then decides to take an adversarial stance by practically threatening Gardai who may have stayed out. FG are bumbling around in government and no, I do not for a second believe FF would be any better.
So again we have more can kicking by Enda and Co and again more of the Journal trying to force things on the Garda, it’s been called off for now, it has not been accepted by members and I wonder if 1500€ really will push the vote in there favor, I think not. The commissioner, Minister for Justice need to go and Enda Kenny needs to step down as leader of this government the guy is dangerously clueless and if he had any respect for this party he would. If not he is going to spark a GE every soon.
Paid for a 15 minute handover, this will not go down well with the nurses. Well that’s if Liam Doran can be bothered to actually raise the issue,nurse complete a handover which can take up to an hour and they do not get paid for this, yet they have to work a day for free every month. JOKE
On the plus side, at least the nurses are legally permitted to strike and fight for the better conditions that they deserve.
Well that’s good news . Where I live it’s very rarely to see a Garda car and only once this year have I seen two Gardai walking down my road. Yet any night there’s a football match on in Sean Walsh park these guys are tripping over themselves.
@Alan Scott: Again Alan, if you bothered your arse to look closely at this you would get information and look at the policing plan for your area and see it is completely different from policing plan for a football match, the stadium will pay for overtime for the Garda, so the management can draft in more staff with more money, if they didn’t then either the match wouldn’t happen or there would be no Garda at it. I would suggest strongly that you take this up with your local TD or Superintendent so that you can find out how you can give input into the policing plan for your area. So in summary, goverment again failing to invest money into the police force equals less Garda on the street.
@OnTheOutside: Red thumbs from people who rather sit and complain about the lack of Garda on the internet happily all day and yet could be bothered to ask there local TD’s/Super about how to get involved in the policing plan, I guess it’s too ‘rat’ like for some people or just easier to moan about it and do nothing about it.
On the Outside I am not critical with the Gardai on the beat their bosses and unlike you I am not going to get wound up on your comment to me except to say the amount of Gardai that are policing these football days seem to me to be way over the top No one cares about your policing plan there’s none where I live if there was we would see at least some of them in our community on the beat.
On the Outside I note you are not a fan of red thumbs . Your statement explains everything to me
@Alan Scott: Well Alan if you don’t care about your policing plan (and yes there is one where you live) then why are you complaining about how your area is policed? And again, I have already pointed out why there is no Garda on the beat and how you can resolve it but you don’t seem to want to listen.
@ On theOutside. I am not complaining I made a statement on my first post and you took me up on it I am trying to defend what I am talking about . My job for you 36 years a lot of the time did in some way involve the Gardai as a local Authority worker . So I do know what I am talking about
FGs wish to remain at the trough and meet Europe’s payment demands are a road to disaster for the party. FF will swoop soon.. I wish politics and the electorate were not so predictable… Screw me once , screw me twice :(
Well the Fianna Fail policy under Bertie wasn’t much better, they gave the Unions pretty much whatever they wanted, and the public sector pay bill trebled under their watch.
The true cost of Bertie’s socialism is l now being played out.
Glad that a mutually acceptable solution was found.
Feeling of relief for many in the country today.
The strike could have been extremely damaging to the public trust.
@Brinster: very unlikely that members will accept this offer when it goes to ballot.
€15 bonus for everyday they take off…A holiday bonus worth circa €500 per year for taking your holidays? That will go down well with other public service sectors, particularly the teachers who get three months holidays?
Unless they have a full time permanent contract, teachers don’t get paid in the summer so they’re unemployed for three months. Not exactly holidays
Just because the gardai get offered something doesn’t mean every civil servant should as well. They have proven they are a vital stand alone service and should be treated differently. The country was on the brink of martial law. I’m happy and support the gardai fully
I think the point of this “bonus” as you call it is related to the fact that unlike other workers Gardai cannot take annual leave as they please. Weekend night shifts, days off around Christmas and other holiday times are off limits for them. To be fair most workers can ask for time off as they wish. Why shouldn’t the guards be compensated for not having the same right.
It’s off?
:calls off various crimes.
Somewhere nearby, an arch villain is stroking his cat and whispering “I’ll get you next time gadget”
What gadgets would an Irish inspector gadget have?
Our Govt. are pack of spineless p*ssies. The 12% of income tax payers who pay 80% of the tax will have to dig into their pockets to pay for this. This is only the beginning and it’s now open season on the taxpayer. We’ll be bust in 10 years because of the toxic pensions of the public sector. We can’t afford this.
A lot of money for the Garda Commissioner and her management team to keep their jobs and implement questionable polices with no real change.
Can’t wait to hear the detail on the Productivity part of the deal. Maybe a commitment to deal with the Clearance back log to enable the fellow citizens who need it to get a job and get off the dole. I won’t hold my breath.
So, the LRA wasn’t the only show in town after all.
Pretty briefings? In other words, sit down there for yourself and have a cuppa tea..Sher you’re being paid AGAIN for it !! What a laugh
widespread relief there might be but this entire saga was a farce from start to finish. The dogs on the Street knew they would get what they wanted, the absurd pretence, warnings of armagadon, Civil society breaking down was beyond silly and certain media outlets where obviously taking their lead from Fox News hysteria. Even the commissioner knew the government would cave in and by all accounts didn’t even bother with a tiresome contingency plan. Complete silliness, complete farce and a complete nonsense. Of course we can now expect the various public service unions to have their collective hands out whilst quing outside the labour relations commission, Landsdowne road my hole.
As I said earlier this week they would get their deal and fair play, Iam very sure many of them could do with the extra cash. However as I also said “who is going to pay for this , just look at the public transport cost going up, Being in the private sector I do not want further living cost imposed on me to pay for this.
Wide spread relief lol .. you’d think anarchy was gonna happen lol
have your say