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Families for Reform of CAMHS is a family advocacy and support group made up of 1,500 families from across Ireland calling for the urgent reform of CAMHS. 

Our children are found in communities, groups and families across Ireland.

If you are a family member and would like to join our group please email us at familiesforreformofcamhs@gmail.com

The group was set up following the publication of the Reports from the Mental Health Commission and the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child highlighting serious concerns about the insufficient and inadequate mental health services for children in Ireland.

The Inspector of Mental Health Services at the time, Dr Susan Finnerty, publicly stated at the time that she could not “provide an assurance to all parents or guardians in all parts of Ireland that their children have access to a safe effective, and evidence-based mental health service.” 

The concerns set out in last year’s reports are not new but were also raised in the Mental Health Commission’s 2017 report and the UN Committee’s 2016 report.

Families for Reform of CAMHS is aiming to raise awareness about the lack of adequate mental health services for children in Ireland and to build public support for our call for reform.

As a group, we have spoken numerous times in Leinster House, contributed to radio shows, podcasts and articles to highlight the challenges and realities faced by families trying to access support for their child. 

Links to our media engagements can be found here.

We continue to call for meaningful action and urgent reform, in particular implementation of the Mental Health Commission's 49 recommendations and the  recommendations from the Oireachtas Committee for Children, Disability, Equality, Inclusion and Youth.