Irish Examiner
Children with mental health issues are being failed at almost every turn, according to the newly formed Children’s Mental Health Coalition which was launched yesterday.
The coalition, which includes members of Amnesty International, Barnardo’s, Educate Together and the Children’s Rights Alliance, among others, launched its manifesto demanding action in four key areas: the education system, children in detention, children in care, and mental health services.
The manifesto launch was preceded by a photocall outside Leinster House where children delivered 247 Christmas cards representing each child placed in unsuitable inpatient units last year.
Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International and a member of the new coalition, said this was just one area in which “consistently the Government has failed to deal with the problem”.
He said Ireland had the forth-highest rate of suicide among those aged 15 – 24, yet up to October this year just €60,000 of the €1m allocated to staff community child and adolescent mental health had actually been spent.
