Fine Gael and Labour today promised a dedicated service for young people suffering from mental health and eating disorders.
The vow to inject funds in to maintaining specialist psychiatric services for the under-18s aims to cut suicide rates and tackle underlying causes such as depression and anorexia.
Dan Neville
Dan Neville, Fine Gael deputy health and children spokesman, said the absence of specific child and adolescent psychiatric services was preventing early intervention and leading to an increase in mental health problems in all age groups.
He believes more needs to be done for the estimated 200,000 people who are currently suffering from eating disorders.
"It is a disgrace that there is no specific public service in Ireland for the management of eating disorders which arise in childhood and adolescent," said Mr Neville.
"These disorders in children and adolescents can rapidly become particularly acute and long lasting because of the significant under-investment in specialist psychiatric services for the under-18s."
Mr Neville said investing in the mental health of children and adolescents is the most cost-effective way to prevent the continuous increase of mental health problems in all age groups.