<p>
	Fifty children with mental health problems have been admitted to adult psychiatric units so far this year, new figures reveal.</p>
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	The Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed almost a third of all psychiatric patients aged under 18 were seen in adult mental health units from January to May.</p>
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	The figures for the first half of the year reveal the practice, which was to be phased out, is still heavily relied on.</p>
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	Fianna F&aacute;il TD Colm Keaveney said the situation was shameful and leaves children at risk psychologically, emotionally and physically.</p>
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	&ldquo;It simply has to end. It is completely inappropriate. The first point of contact for children is in an inappropriate location,&rdquo; he said.</p>
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	&ldquo;It is a major &lsquo;no no&rsquo; from the point of view of stigma, for the long-term treatment of that child and it is unacceptable.&rdquo;</p>
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	The Fine Gael/Labour coalition vowed to phase out the practice in their 2011 Programme for Government.</p>
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	In its response to the question from Mr Keaveney, the HSE said 160 children and adolescents were admitted to inpatient units in the first five months of the year.</p>
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	Clinical decisions</p>
<p>
	It said 110 &ndash; or 69 per cent &ndash; were admitted to age-appropriate Acute Child and Adolescent Inpatient Units, while 50 &ndash; 31 per cent &ndash; were to approved adult mental health inpatient units.</p>
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	Of those 50, 17 were admitted in January, four in February, eight in March, 12 in April and nine in May.</p>
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	&ldquo;There is a range of factors which can influence the clinical decision to admit to an adult acute inpatient unit,&rdquo; a HSE spokesman said.</p>
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	&ldquo;Some of these admissions relate to a crisis admission where no adolescent bed is immediately available.</p>
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	&ldquo;Distance to the nearest [child and adolescent] inpatient unit can also be a factor when immediate clinical assessment and treatment may be the requirement.</p>
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	&ldquo;In some cases, the presenting clinical needs of the young person, (who may be nearly 18 years old) may be more appropriately assessed and treated in an adult unit.&rdquo;</p>
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	The practice has been heavily condemned by various groups including the Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance and the Mental Health Commission.</p>
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	In a report in 2011, the commission &ndash; the national watchdog for psychiatric services &ndash; said by the end of that year there should be no more admissions of children under 18 to adult units.</p>
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	Mr Keaveney said the figures were a damning indictment of the Government&rsquo;s mental health policy. &ldquo;Across the country our mental health services are stretched to the limit and more people are waiting longer for access to essential care,&rdquo; he said.</p>
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	Staff levels</p>
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	&ldquo;The Government has left our mental health services short &euro;70million and staff levels are dangerously below target. We are now close to 3,000 posts behind the principles set down in A Vision for Change.</p>
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	&ldquo;The Government needs to seriously address the under-investment in mental health in the budget and put our services back on a course to deliver proper care for patients.&rdquo;</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fifty-children-admitted-to-adult-psychiatric-units-this-year-1.2311710">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fifty-children-admitted-to-adult-psychiatric-units-this-year-1.2311710</a></p>
