Only a "small fraction" of children suffering from mental health problems in Ireland get access to the services they need, according to a report published by Amnesty International.
The report, Mental Illness - The Neglected Quarter, says Ireland does not comply with its international human rights obligations in its treatment of children with, or at risk of, mental ill health under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"A lack of awareness amongst children, parents, teachers etc in identifying mental health problems, stigma leading to children's reluctance to acknowledge mental health problems and the lack of age-appropriate mental health services must be addressed," says the human rights organisation.
Amnesty accused Ireland of a "dereliction of duty" in relation to such children.
More than 190 states have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, making it, according to Amnesty, the "most ratified" UN convention to date. The body says the convention, ratified by Ireland in 1992, marked a turning point in global efforts to guarantee children certain rights.
"In ratifying the convention, Ireland promised before the eyes of its citizens and the world to do everything in its power to respect the right of its children to basic mental health services and to dignity," says Mr Sean Love, director of Amnesty International's Irish section in the report.
"Ireland is no less bound by the norms of human rights law than elsewhere in the world. Amnesty will pursue these obligations with the Irish Government, and the publication of this report marks the beginning of our campaign to focus on children's mental health rights."
Amnesty said its objective for the 2003 campaign will be to establish general awareness that mental health is a human rights issue, to place this fact "firmly before Government" and to lobby for changes in policy.