No resources to offer a new mental health service for young people

Ballinasloe area served by in Roscommon

THE HSE doesn't have the resources to provide mental health services for children and adolescents specific to the Ballinasloe area.

The need for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) was highlighted by Fine Gael Cllr Alan Harney at the recent meeting of Regional Health Forum West where he referenced the recent deaths of two young people due to suicide.

Cllr Harney said that there is a clear demand for a proper roll out of a CAMHS service in the region and having the service based in Roscommon is a major challenge.

“Mental Health services in Ballinasloe is a key example of a service gone backwards,” commented Cllr Harney.

Integrated Health Area Manager for Galway Roscommon Ann Cosgrove revealed that the HSE lacks the resources to provide such services in the area.

She stated that CAMHS for individuals in Ballinasloe area are currently provided by the Roscommon-East Galway CAMHS Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) based in Roscommon.

A waiting list published at the end of April shows that 96 per cent of referrals to that date were seen by the mental health team in Roscommon within the recommended timeframe of three months, 36 referrals were waiting for an initial appointment while five were waiting more than three months to be seen.

General Manager at Galway University Hospital Chris Keane acknowledged that there is a “growing demand” for CAMH services across the board and said that the HSE will explore the facilities and resources to see “what opportunities” might be available.