Crying out for help: Cork parents desperate as 11-year-old self harms while on mental health waiting list

THE head of a Cork charity shared her heartbreak at receiving photographs of a child’s self-harming scars from parents who revealed he had been waiting 18 months for counselling.
Cork Penny Dinners founder Caitríona Twomey was alarmed to view the images on her phone.
However, she said it is not the first call she has heard from parents in distress.
The parents had taken the photos as a last resort to get help for their son, who is just 11 years old.
“These parents needed somebody who could give them advice,” Caitríona said.
“They knew I would be aware of who could help.”
Figures revealed this week showed nearly 100 children nationwide have been waiting for at least 18 months for an appointment with the mental health service.
At the end of December, there were 2,327 kids waiting for an appointment with the HSE's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs). The Cork and Kerry region is the worst affected area, with 619 people waiting for an appointment.

Ms Twomey said the incident made her feel angry at the Government’s inaction in relation to mental health issues.
“It makes me feel angry with the Government because they know these issues are occurring,” she said.
“These are children who are protected by the Constitution, yet when they present for services there isn’t enough resources.