Over two thirds of children on a waiting list for mental health services in Kerry, have been waiting over six months for an assessment.
That’s according to figures released to Kerry Sinn Féin TD, Pa Daly, from the HSE.
The HSE’s figures on waiting lists for the child and adolescent mental health services in Kerry, show 135 children are waiting for an assessment by the service in this county.
Just over two thirds of the children on the CAMHS waiting list, have been waiting for more than six months.
One in five who are on the waiting list have been waiting for over a year, the vast majority of whom are in North Kerry.
Just under 12% of the children in Kerry waiting for a mental health assessment have been waiting for between 15 and 18 months; all of these children are in the North Kerry CAMHS region.
The figures were contained in a response to Deputy Daly following a parliamentary question.
HSE Southwest also said in its reply that it acknowledges the lengthy waiting times parents are experiencing, and it sincerely regrets that any child must wait for an assessment.
The HSE said it fully appreciates the level of stress families are experiencing due to the current waiting times.
It said recruitment across CAMHS is ongoing, and every effort is being made to ensure vacant posts are filled as quickly as possible.
Deputy Daly says it is devastating to think that some children and young people are languishing on waiting lists for well over a year before they can access treatment.
He said these are not just figures, and behind every number is a child or young person and their family, often in deep distress because they are awaiting access to much-needed services.
He called on the government and HSE to take action to reduce the waiting list times for CAMHS in Kerry.
