The Psychiatric Nurses Association has said there has been a huge crisis for many years due to the shortage of psychiatric nurses in the health service.
PNA General Secretary Peter Hughes said that over 700 psychiatric nurse vacancies exist.
Speaking at the annual delegate conference in Co Mayo, he said this has meant a huge reliance on overtime and agency staff to provide basic services.
Mr Hughes said it was hampering the development of services for adults and the Child and Mental Health Services.
In relation to CAMHS, he said the Linn Dara Unit at Cherry Orchard Hospital in Dublin, saw 11 beds closed three years ago and as things stand, there is no prospect of those beds opening again.
He also said there are questions about where the Health Service Executive will get the staff to operate the 20 bed unit at the new National Children's Hospital, due to open early next year.
Mr Hughes said psychiatric nurses were fed up, worn out, burnt out, and the level of overtime can only be sustained for so long.
Around 500 delegates are attending the second day of the PNA conference in Westport.
HSE Chief Executive Bernard Gloster said that despite what the service has done to recruit and retain staff, there remains a gap that he is determined to identify and try and close.
He told the conference that the spirit of the agreement reached with the PNA yesterday to identify staff gaps will be adhered to fully by him.
Mr Gloster said the process will be completed before the health estimates process in May, as part of the next Budget.
He said the HSE has 5,500 psychiatric nurses and the number of staff leaving has reduced, adding that new and creative ways were needed to attract and keep psychiatric nurses.
Read more: Psychiatric Nurses Association suspends industrial action
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