title: Child rights and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Ireland.
abstract: This paper explores children's rights in the child and adolescent mental health arena in Ireland. It begins by outlining the legal and policy contexts of both children's services and mental health policy and practice. It specifically focuses on the notion of participation as a key factor in addressing rights-based approaches in the provision of services. The article explores current practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, highlights some of the disparities in services, which result in questions about human rights. Mainly reflective in its approach, it does, however, provide data from a small scale qualitative study carried out in relation to young people diagnosed with ADHD and their perceptions of psychopharmacological approach. The issue of consent is explored as an example of how current practice approaches fall short of a rights-based framework. It concludes with recommendations for changes incorporating a more participatory and collaborative approach.
authors.affiliation: Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Linn Dara CAMHS, Dublin, Ireland, jeothy.mohan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damodaran
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sherlock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D057828:Informed Consent By Minors; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009313:National Health Programs; D010358:Patient Participation; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011050:Policy Making