Children with mental health illnesses are incurring waiting lists of over one year in a system which provides for only one advance nurse practitioner, according to an unpublished report by Dublin City University (DCU).
The report found that some 2,000 children are on waiting lists for psychiatric assessment countrywide and are sometimes cared for in adult inpatient facilities due to the lack of specialised units and care available.
In the report, prepared by Dr Imelda Coyne and Joy Conlon of DCU's school of nursing, some 20 per cent of children and adolescents were found to suffer from some degree of mental illness, inclusive schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, anorexia nervosa, attention disorder, hyperactivity and behavioural disorders.
"Teenagers older than 16 and those younger than 18 are in a no man's land. They're not classified as children, but they are not yet adults," said Dr Coyne.
She said there was serious concern at the practice of admitting children with mental illnesses into adult inpatient facilities which are not focused on child and adolescent care.
Between eight and 10 beds are available countrywide to cater for children with mental illnesses, according to Dr Coyne.
"We have the second highest proportion of young people under the age of 16 in Europe - 30.8 per cent of the entire population are young people," she said.
Increased collaboration and community resources would help to provide for better early intervention and continued care, according to the report.
The report, commissioned by the child and adolescent psychological services in Drogheda, Co Louth, will be submitted to the HSE and Department of Health shortly in the hope of obtaining an advance nurse practitioner for the area.