The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland is warning a lack of mental health services is putting lives at risk.
The college says a major overhaul of the system is needed, as thousands of children referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services were unable to get treatment.
Staff shortages are being blamed on delays and long waiting lists for care.
President of the College and Consultant Psychiatrist at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, Dr. William Flannery, says the government needs to put its own plans into action:
"We're long past warnings here, for example, several thousand children who were referred to by their GP to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services were actually turned away.
"Some were turned away and some were put on a waiting list.
"What is so frustrating for the college given the seriousness of that is that we have the solutions, we have the plans but it is always about implementing or acting on those."
