Children reporting suicidal thoughts waiting four weeks to be seen

Children who reported suicidal thoughts have had to wait up to four weeks for an emergency appointment, according to Grainia Long of the Irish Society for the Protection of Children.

The ISPCC said it is “very, very concerned” about the lack of investment in services for children and highlights a number of serious issues in its annual report which is published today.

Poor self-image, the early sexualisation of children and viewing of inappropriate content are among some of the emerging trends highlighted by Childline volunteers, Ms Long told RTE's Morning Ireland.

Over 420,000 calls were answered by the support service last year. The majority of the calls came from boys.

In addition the ISPCC also provided a child and family support service for up to 500 children handling referrals from Túsla, schools and general practitioners.

“There is an ongoing demand for services with a marked shift towards mental health issues. We are seeing much more complex cases. But less time and less investment is going into early intervention which is so important for successful outcomes.

“We are very, very concerned. Some children who reported suicidal thoughts have to wait up to four weeks for an emergency appointment. It is extremely serious. It is not unusual to have to wait 18 months for an appointment with a child psychologist.

“The system is creaking at the seams.”

Ms Long said children called the helpline service to talk about issues such as loneliness, anxiety and concern for family separation and instability.

She said despite the passing of the Children’s Referendum, the court system still does not recognise the voice of children. “We should have seen changes since the Referendum, but we’re not.

“There is an urgent need to tackle the issue and to have the child’s voice at the heart of the system.”

The ISPCC report also highlights that children as young as nine and ten are viewing pornography.

“In some cases they are stumbling upon it and they are confused and they call us. In other cases adults allow them to look at it or do nothing to stop them.

“We need an open and honest conversation about pornography to ensure it is managed in an appropriate way.”