It’s been claimed that young children with mental health problems are waiting up to three years for treatment in County Leitrim.
And councillors have heard that the stress of what’s been described as “an appalling situation” is leaving parents in despair.
Fianna Fail Councillor Mary Bohan told this month’s Leitrim County Council meeting that children who need help are waiting for 18 months for assessments and up to another 18 months to be treated.
She cited one case where a young child is being sent home from primary school on a regular basis because of very difficult behavioural issues.
She said the child’s mother was forced to pay out €60 an hour for private professional counselling but she’s unable to keep doing this as she can’t work and provide full-time care for her child.
Councillor Bohan said Health Minister Eoghan Harris needs “to get real” in relation to the provision of mental health services for children and adults in the country.
