A report has found that mental health services for children and teenagers are overstretched, while getting access to support can be confusing.
The Children's Mental Health Coalition study shows that demand for services is increasing and that at the end of 2014 waiting lists had gone up by 8%.
Figures obtained from the HSE by the coalition show that Government investment has resulted in an increase of 47 staff in community teams in 2014 alone, and a 71% increase in the number of child and adolescent mental health consultant posts during the year.
However, the report also shows that at the end of 2014, almost 3,000 children and young people were on waiting lists, with over 400 of them waiting for more than a year.
The study shows that 89 young people - one third of all child and teenage admissions - were admitted to adult wards in 2014.
The report recommends increasing the number of staff in the area, adequate resourcing of mental health services in primary care and Child and Adolescent Mental health Services that provide an out-of-hours service.
Coalition chairman Dr Shari McDaid said the study found "that there are a bewildering number of agencies involved in children’s mental health care, which can cause confusion at what is already a stressful time for young people and their families."
Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon said the study is a vital aid in understanding the gaps within the service available for vulnerable children and teenagers.
Dr McDaid added that as one in three young people is likely to have experienced a mental disorder by the age of 13 it is clear "just how urgent the need for good quality services and support is".
