1. What you should expect from CAMHS 

The CAMHS Operational Guidelines set out what you should expect from CAMHS. Please note that what is in the Guidelines is not always what families receive. The Guidelines can be helpful, however, for pointing to what your child should be receiving and help you fight for relevant supports . The Guidelines include:

  • Information on the referral process 
  • Information on what supports your child should receive, for example a key worker and care plan 
  • Transition to other services (including adult services)
  • Discharge from CAMHS
  • Inpatient treatment

2. Making a complaint

Our members have found contacting the complaints officer for their area the most effective manner of making a complaint. Ensure to ask for a review of service with an independent mediator. 

Alternatively:

  • Call HSELive on 1800 700 700
  • E-mail yoursay@hse.ie  with your feedback or complaint
  • Make a complaint directly to the Office of the Ombudsman for

Children by following link https://www.oco.ie/complaints/

 

3.Sharing the Vision: National Mental Health Policy

Sharing the Vision is Ireland's current mental health policy. It sets out commitments to:

  • Enhance supports for all individuals transitioning from CAMHS to Adult Mental Health Services

  • The establishment of six telehub out-of-hour supports to enhance out of hours CAMHS services
  • Ensure adherence to the CAMHS inpatient Code of Governance nationally

  • To put in place appropriate services for people with complex mental health difficulties and intellectual disabilities and to ensure equitable access to mental health services for people of all ages with an intellectual disability. 

 

4. Useful links: 

  • HSE information on CAMHS including videos on what to expect
  • Jigsaw - Mental health advice and support for young people aged 12 to 25 years old 
  • BeLonG To Youth Services - provides support information and groups for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI+) young people in Ireland, their parents and carers, and other professionals.
  • Pieta House - suicide and self-harm support service
  • spunout is a youth information website created by young people, for young people. 
  • Turn2Me - Online counselling and supports for helping to cope with suicide, depression, anxiety and other mental health needs.
  • ADHD Ireland - Information and management support for young people with ADHD and their families. 
  • Bodywhys Ireland - the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland

If you are a family member of a young person in CAMHS and would like to be part of this group, please email us - everyone welcome! Email: familiesforreformofcamhs@gmail.com

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