THE NUMBER of children admitted to adult psychiatric hospitals rose significantly last year due to a lack of appropriate facilities, new figures show.
There were a total of 406 admissions of children and adolescents to mental health services last year, some as young as 10 years of age,
Of this number, about 260 young people were admitted to adult units last year. This compares with 218 in 2007.
The practice, which has been repeatedly criticised as a violation of basic human rights by mental health campaigners, is due to be phased out because of the risks it poses for children.
The Inspector of Mental Health Services, Dr Patrick Devitt, has described the practice as “inexcusable, counter-therapeutic and almost purely custodial in that clinical supervision is provided by teams unqualified in child and adolescent psychiatry.”
Despite repeated calls by the State’s mental health watchdog and campaign groups, there are still insufficient numbers of child or adolescent beds to cope with demand.
Interim figures from a report on psychiatric in-patient admissions for 2008 by the Health Research Board, due to be formally published later this year, gives a detailed breakdown of children and adolescents admitted into residential care.
It shows that of the 406 admissions last year, 20 children were aged between six and 12 years; almost 50 were aged between 13 and 14; 113 were aged 16 years; and 174 per cent were aged 17 on admission.
Of those admitted to adult units, 38 per cent were sent to general hospital psychiatric units, 17 per cent to psychiatric hospitals and 10 per cent to private hospitals.
Depressive disorders accounted for 26 per cent of all admissions for under 18s. Some 18 per cent had a diagnosis of eating disorders, 15 per cent had a diagnosis of neuroses and 9 per cent had a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
In response to criticism of the sector, health authorities point out that child and adolescent services are being developed, with the number of acute beds increasing from 10 to 30 this year.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) says it had commenced work on two 22-bed units in Cork and Galway, due to be completed next year. In addition, it points to increases in the number of consultant-led child and adolescent psychiatric teams. It also says it is addressing waiting lists for psychiatric assessments.
The Irish Mental Health Coalition said the ongoing placement of children in adult units was detrimental for children.
“Much of the money promised under its policy has been squandered, channelled away to fill funding black holes elsewhere in our health system,” it said in a statement.
“Instead we need enforceable legislation to deliver human rights and greater equality, effectiveness and efficiency in mental health services, as well as accountability in how such services are funded.”
The State’s watchdog on mental health, the Mental Health Commission, recently amended its code of practice to officially phase out the practice of placing young people in inappropriate facilities.
It says that no child under 16 years is to be admitted to an adult unit from July of this year; this will extend to young people under 17 by December 2010 and under-18s by the end of 2011.
New guidance notes provided to psychiatric facilities says that if the admission of a child to an adult unit takes place in contravention of its code of practice, the centre must submit a detailed report to the commission outlining why the admission took place.
