The whistleblower, Dr Maya Sharma, who exposed the Kerry CAMHS scandal, has thanked the patients and families affected for their support.
The consultant psychiatrist exposed the over-medication and inappropriate treatment of patients at South Kerry CAMHS.
Hundreds of young people in Kerry’s child and adolescent mental health services were found to have been harmed or put at risk of harm because of unsafe practices.
The concerns of Dr Maya Sharma were upheld in two independent reviews commissioned by the HSE – one by Dr Sean Maskey for South Kerry CAMHS was published four years ago; the report by Dr Colette Halpin for North Kerry CAMHS was released in February.
The HSE also undertook a national audit of CAMHS teams.
Dr Sharma, who settled a lawsuit she’d taken against the HSE, has been living homeless in London; she said she was unable to find work because she spoke out.
She said her reputation as a whistleblower made it impossible to find work in any publicly-funded service.
Last month, an Irish Medical Council panel approved her reinstatement to practise as a psychiatrist.
Dr Sharma hopes to return to Killarney to open a private practice for children, which would charge clients on a sliding scale based on income.
She says she’s suffered great personal and professional turmoil as a result of speaking out.
Dr Maya Sharma says the generous support, kindness and compassion shown to her by Kerry CAMHS patients and their families kept her going.
