Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I do not have any additional back-up notes but everything the Deputy said is correct. It is about continuously speaking out in public and treating the issue in its normality. That is what we must do. People with disabilities are contributors to society. They work, are part of our community and contribute, not just to the public purse but to the social discourse as well.

The emphasis in terms of mental health and disability is often compared to the road safety campaign. Deputy Neville rightly said it is the insidiousness of stigma, and the hidden attitude, that is difficult to deal with. I am not dismissing the people who did such an exceptional job in terms of road safety but there are physical things that can be done in regard to road safety to make the roads safer and prevent accidents happening. There is a different attitude towards mental health and disability and the greatest barrier is the insidiousness of that attitude. The Deputy is right. The attitude sometimes can prevent people from reaching out for help, and seeking that help too late can mean one is left with an enduring condition. I agree with everything the Deputy said.

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