‘Powerful testimonies’ of families should be ‘wake-up call’ to improve services for autism

WITH a high rate of referrals not accepted, TD Mark Ward has asked the HSE if children with autism are being excluded.

Mark Ward, TD, Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson for Mental Health, was speaking following a presentation given to members of the Oireachtas by the group Families for the Reform of CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).

Since 2020, 25,000 children who were referred to CAMHS have been refused treatment.

The CHO 7 area, which represents Dublin South/West, Kildare/ West Wicklow, and Ward’s constituencies of Lucan and Clondalkin, which have high rates of children waiting for services, is one of the highest regions in the country for referrals not accepted.

In 2023 to date CHO 7 has 814 referrals accepted and 633 referrals not accepted.

In 2022, CHO 7 saw 1,207 referrals not accepted.

“This week I invited Families for Reform of CAMHS into the Oireachtas to address elected representatives and staff”, Deputy Ward said. 

“This group is made up of over 400 families across the state and they are growing every week. 

“They have used their first-hand experiences of CAMHS to highlight the changes needed to reform services.

“We heard how 59 per cent of their members had a child with a diagnosis of autism and 85 per cent of those felt that this diagnosis negatively impacted the service and support their child received.

“Autistic children are 28 times more likely to consider suicide and that 70 per cent of autistic children are estimated to have a dual diagnosis of a mental health disorder.

“Parents described how they feel that children with autism are excluded from CAMHS and even when they are accepted for treatment by CAMHS that they cannot avail of all the services.”

“Autistic children in CAMHS with “a primary diagnosis of Autism” are currently excluded from accessing supports from the pilot phase of the launch of the CAMHS Hub programme.

“However autistic children in CAMHS have already deemed to reach the threshold of moderate/severe mental health issues.

“Why are they denied this service?

“I have raised the singling out of children with autism with Minister Butler and have asked if this practice can be changed and if Children with Autism are being excluded by CAMHS”. 

Ward believes the “powerful testimonies” by families should be a “wake-up call” for the Government to improve CAMHS services.

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