Child & Adolescent Emergency Mental Health Crisis: A Neglected Cohort

Aims To highlight the ongoing concern regarding the mental health well-being of children and adolescents in Ireland and access to appropriate and timely MH services. Methods With reference to existing literature and policy planning documents, this paper presents an over view of child and adolescent MH services (CAMHS) and paediatric liaison psychiatry services (PLPs) along with their respective roles in the management of children presenting with acute MH crisis. Results Despite longstanding and growing public and professional awareness of unequal and inadequate MH services for youth, progress has been slow. The long-standing lack of parity between mental and physical health remains, most prominent in the area of access to urgent MH assessment. Conclusion Urgent action is needed given ongoing concerns about the rising prevalence of MH distress and disorders in youth, and the lack of access to MH services in Ireland.
Competing Interests: The author declares no conflicts of interest.