Waiting lists of one to two years to be seen in some public clinics
MAJOR GAPS still exist in psychiatric services for teenagers, even though adolescents are under a lot more pressure nowadays, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist has claimed.
Dr Sarah Buckley, who is heading up a range of new services for teenagers being opened by St Patrick’s Hospital, claimed there were waiting lists of up to two years to be seen in some clinics – even though research had shown that early intervention was crucial.
Dr Buckley said there were still major gaps in current psychiatric service provision for this age group despite the fact that over three-quarters of mental illness actually started by the age of 16. She added that there were waiting lists of one to two years to be seen in some public clinics.
The demand on existing services is growing, both because the services are in short supply and also because of the “increased pressures in today’s society” on young people.
“We do think that it is becoming harder for adolescents nowadays. There are a lot more pressures on them,” she said.
Many, she explained, had difficulties coping with everyday things such as school and peers and bullying. “Adolescence is a time of increased risk of poor mental health with anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders and substance misuse becoming more prevalent as well as an increasing risk of deliberate self-harm and suicidal behaviour,” she added.
Dr Buckley was speaking yesterday as the hospital announced plans for three new services – its first community- based adolescent services centre which will be based in Lucan, is due to open next month; a 14-bed inpatient facility for teenagers will open later in the year with en-suite rooms and a gym and education centre; and a new support and information line for patients, health professionals and the public.
The community service will be a rapid access clinic run by a multidisciplinary team and its aim will be to catch and treat mental illness among 15-18 year olds.
At present only privately insured patients will be able to access the new services but Dr Buckley said the hospital hoped to be able to offer them free at a later stage if fundraising permitted.
The hospital’s chief executive, Paul Gilligan, said the new services would help fill a vacuum in essential mental health services for adolescents. It was estimated, he said, that 20 per cent of teenagers were suffering some form of mental illness in Ireland at any one time with 4-6 per cent requiring some clinical intervention and 0.5 per cent requiring inpatient services.
Minister for Health Mary Harney, who turned the sod for the new inpatient facility, said there were still major deficiencies in mental health services around the country for young people and she wanted to see the public health service use facilities like those at St Patrick’s Hospital.
The new inpatient unit will be the second such private facility in the State. One already exists at St John of Gods.
Meanwhile, the new information line launched by St Patrick’s will be staffed by experienced mental health nurses and can be reached on 01-2493333.