Figures contained in the recent HSE Performance Report reveal that one in ten children admitted to an adult mental health unit last year were 16 years old or even younger.
It was revealed that 356 children in total required inpatient care in 2015 and of those, 261 were admitted into a child and adolescent mental health unit.
The remaining 95 children were admitted to an adult unit and nearly 10% of these cases were those of children aged 16 or younger.
The number of children being admitted into adult units is decreasing however as there was a 5% drop in the numbers since 2013.
But in general the number of children requiring and receiving acute inpatient mental health care has increased by 66 since 2014.
The director of Mental Health Reform, Dr Shari McDaid told Newstalk “These new figures serve to underline why mental health services need the urgent attention of government.”
"At a time when all parties are negotiating the formation of the next government, Mental Health Reform would urge all those involved to ensure the provision of mental health services is prioritised in the new Programme for Government".
Dr McDaid also raised concern that: "the lack of capacity in community based mental health services could be leading to an increase in children being admitted to inpatient care".
For more information on mental health and the supports available visit the Mental Health Ireland website.
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