Families should be given a central role in the care of their children by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs), according to professionals and researchers attached to the service. The research team comprised of three child and adolescent psychiatrists — two consultants and one senior registrar — and two pharmacists. It said families described experiences of being “talked over, dismissed, or not taken seriously” during consultations. “A recurring analytic pattern was the perceived tendency for Camhs to attribute all presenting difficulties to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), restricting access to mental health care,” the report said. The report called for the establishment of “family advisory councils” across Camhs regions, “independent audits” of family involvement, and annual public reporting on wait times and satisfaction.

Source: Irish Examiner January 07, 2026 18:01 UTC