Over 125 children waiting a year or more in Meath for CAMHS appointment

There are 125 children in Meath waiting more than a year for a mental health appointment.

Figures show 216 children are waiting for appointments in the South Meath Ashbourne Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) area alone. The shocking figures show that the CAHMS service in Meath is "beyond broken", according to Deputy Darren O'Rourke.

He made the comments in light of a parliamentary reply he received which confirmed that 125 children in the county were waiting longer than 12 months for an appointment.

"The HSE have issued a response to me showing that hundreds of children are forced to wait for vital mental health appointments in Meath and across the wider CHO8 region.

"The figures show that 216 children are waiting for appointments in the South Meath Ashbourne CAMHS area alone. This includes 109 children waiting longer than 12 months for an appointment.

"In Trim CAMHS, 81 children are waiting, including 16 waiting longer than 12 months.

"In North Meath CAMHS, 36 children are waiting, including four waiting longer than nine months.”

In South Louth East Meath, 38 children are waiting, with no one waiting longer than nine months.

"This is not right or fair. We need to resource our mental health services to ensure people in need can access services when and where they need them," he said.

The HSE has been approached for comment.