Children's Mental Health Coalition

Through the Mental Health Matters strategy St Patrick’s University Hospital committed to advocating for the rights of those who suffer from mental illness. As part of this advocacy work the organisation is an active member of the Children’s Mental Health Coalition. 

Grounded in the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Children’s Mental Health Coalition comprises 35 groups who are committed to advocating for the mental health rights of children and young people under 18 years of age in Ireland. The Vision of the Coalition is that Ireland should be one of the best places to be a child, where every child’s right to mental health is realised. 

Through it’s manifesto the Coalition is calling on the Irish Government to 

• Provide age appropriate mental health services for children
• Ensure schools and early years settings engage in mental health promotion and provide early supportive intervention
• Provide forensic mental health services to children with mental health difficulties who come before the courts.
• Develop a national framework for mental health assessment for children in care and ensure the necessary follow-up services are provided.

Since the start of the Mental Health Matters strategy, St Patrick’s has taken a number of steps to help to address the mental health needs of young people in Ireland including establishing the Willow Grove Adolescent service and initiating a Transition Year Mental Health Awareness project.

St Patrick’s is committed to ensuring that all children suffering from mental health difficulties in Ireland receive the services and supports they require and through the Children’s Mental Health Coalition will continue to advocate for the rights of one of the most vulnerable groups in Irish Society. 

For more information on the work of the Coalition see www.childrensmentalhealth.ie