Madam, – I read with interest your Editorial (December 23rd) and recent articles on the subject of psychiatric services for young people in Limerick.
Young people living in deprived areas experience twice the rate of mental health problems compared to their more affluent peers.
Their mental health and social situations are inextricably linked and it will require our best thinking and systemic solutions to address this.
Vision for Changein 2005 recommended the development of four 20-bed child and adolescent psychiatric units in Ireland. A subsequent managerial decision to proceed with the Dublin, Cork and Galway units but not the proposed unit in Limerick has resulted in inequitable access to appropriate acute mental health care for suicidal young people in Limerick. – Yours, etc,