CAMHS services in Sligo and Leitrim in an ‘appalling state’ as 229 young people await assessments

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Figures released by the HSE have given an indication into the difficulties faced by children and their parents in relation to waiting for help from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and the Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT).

Cllr Thomas Walsh has called for accountability and expressed the belief that too many services are working in isolation of each other and not taking responsibility.

Cllr Walsh said services for children and young people in the region in an “appalling state,” with figures released, following a freedom of information request by him, revealing 229 children and young people across Sligo Leitrim are on a waiting list for an initial assessment in CAMHS; 134 children and young people across Sligo Leitrim are on a waiting list for primary care psychology and 65 children and young people are on a waiting list for CDNT in Sligo, whilst CDNT in Leitrim have 10.

Further inspection of the figures reveal, 257 referrals were made to the CDNT in 2025. Only 19.9% of these referrals were accepted. Data from the Leitrim CDNT indicate an acceptance level of 75% from the 61 referrals received.

713 children and young people were referred to CAMHS in Sligo Leitrim, a specialist service for people under 18 with moderate to severe mental health difficulties. Only 50% of these referrals were accepted in 2025 and even more worrying 32.9% in the year year to date.

472 children and young people were referred to primary care psychology; 43% or 203 referrals were accepted to the service.

Commenting on the figures, Cllr Walsh insisted they illustrate the CAMHS service in the region remains under funded.

“The growing referral levels indicate increased needs among our young people for vital services and ironically the referral acceptance level is falling. Why would a GP refer a young person to CAMHS unless they absolutely had too. CAMHS do not collect data on where that young person or child is diverted to from intake when the referral is not accepted. We can clearly see that the CAMHS service in Sligo Leitrim remains under resourced as 229 children remain on a waiting list on February 18.

Cllr Walsh also hit out at the lack of integration between various services which he described as “Mind boggling.”

He added, “Children are effectively being passed from pillar to post. This is completely unacceptable and a failure of our state and systems. Children, Young people and their families are literally crying out for services, ADHD assessment of needs, counselling, CBT, autism support, occupational therapy, speech and language.

“The Youth Mental Health Action Plan published in February 2025 clearly stated that a digital single point of access for youth mental health services was a key recommendation.

“The development of a Single Point of Access for all child and youth mental health referrals in partnership with disabilities, primary care, and voluntary and statutory agencies is urgently needed today as too many children are slipping between services and are being passed from one to the other with too many of them not taking responsibility.”

Cllr Walsh noted that the data supplied raises serious questions around referrals and thresholds. “A lack of clear pathway and integration between services is very evident. Children, young people and their families need this support, they don’t need rejection letters from multiple services. A referral for a child to one of these services is a cry for help. There needs to be an accountability factor here. Someone needs to be responsible”.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.