This article is from page 1 of the 2008-01-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
DESPITE the fact that children in Clare as young as 12 are turning to alcohol and teenagers of 14 are using cannabis, the mid-west still has not employed a dedicated psychiatrist for adolescents. As a result, young people are falling between the child and adult psychiatric services. Neither is ideal for teenagers and young adults, according to Dr Moosa- jee Bhamjee, who said Clare people are now waiting up to one year for assessment by a psychiatrist. Research from a team of psycholo- gists and sociologists from Trin- ity College and University College
Dublin suggests that mental health problems among young people are increasing. According to Tony Bates of Headstrong, the National Centre for Mental Health, less than 10 per cent of young people with a mental illness engage in support services.
Dr Bhamjee agreed, saying, “A lot of them don’t see drink or drugs as a problem and that is a big issue.
“Drinking is now starting at the end of primary school, and cannabis smoking at the age of 14. These teen- agers are addicts by Leaving Cert and drop-outs at Junior Cert.”
The Clare psychiatrist maintains that peer pressure and body image are adding to the teen strain.
In what has become a vicious cir- cle, younger and younger children are turning to alcohol, drugs and other social problems in an attempt to justify their place in society.
Children at primary school level are presenting with anorexia and Obesity but most of these problems start at 14 and 15 years of age.
“We are beginning to see younger people with early onset of schizo- phrenia, manic depression and ma- nia, panic attracts and anxiety at- tacks due to social pressures.”
There is currently no psychiatrist for adolescents in the mid-west, for which the HSE and government must be chastised, said Dr Bhamjee.
The appointment of one, and a Support team, is estimated to cost €1 million. There are no admission places in Munster for adolescent pa- tients. Each year, an average of 16 adolescent admissions are made to Ward 5B in Limerick and at least one third are from Clare. Young “volun- tary” patients can also be accommo- dated at Ennis General Hospital.
Developing counselling services in colleges and a clinical psycholo- gist in primary schools when chil- dren are more receptive could help, said Dr Bhamjee. In an emergency, a child can be seen by the child psy- chiatrist department within days.