Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is correct. I welcome the opportunity to debate this issue. I wish to examine the situation from another angle. We have had much good debate on the economic side of the issue but I wish to refer to the psychological impact of what is happening in terms of how the banks manage mortgage holders who are in arrears. We must recognise that there is a serious human factor involved. There are many vulnerable people being dealt with by bank officials. We should not generalise as there are good people in banks but we have already heard about people being hounded and who have had unsolicited visits to their house by mortgage lenders.

The banks must be conscious of the psychological impact experienced by someone in mortgage difficulty or debt. Research going back to 1890 demonstrates that suicide and mental illness increase in times of recession. The World Health Organization has recognised that. It said that it should not come as a surprise that we continue to see more stresses, suicides and mental disorders during recession. The potential psychological impact of economic recession on public health is severe. The banks must recognise the impact on people who have lost their jobs, who have job insecurity, economic strain, loss of income and especially those who are under threat of having their home repossessed. One of the most important issues in terms of stress levels is the fear of the loss of one’s home.

The current restricted access to credit further reduces the well-being of society and increases mental ill-health problems. During a recession there is an increase in substance misuse, especially alcohol and drugs and an increase in the incidence of intimate relationship breakdown and divorce. That is an aspect of what is happening to the community we are discussing in terms of difficulties with the banks. Financial institutions should recognise that people who are recently unemployed are most vulnerable because research shows that the unemployed are more likely to suffer mental stress. Those who have mental ill-health in employment are more likely to lose their jobs than those who are not in that situation. The banks must recognise that they have a duty to those people in order to ensure that their mental well-being is taken into account when they are dealing with clients. They have a responsibility towards their well-being. We have heard anecdotally and factually that the way some people in banks handle clients has led to suicide attempts. There has been a big increase in attempted suicide and incidents of self-harm in addition to suicide. That is an issue that must be recognised.

Training is provided within the banks but it is not implemented sufficiently widely. I often see situations where training is given but if the manager is not committed or supportive of such an approach then it does not work. We have seen a similar situation in several other aspects of suicide and mental ill-health. One can give all the training one likes but if a manager is not committed then the situation will not change. The manager is in charge and staff are obliged to respond to him or her. All those working on the front line in mortgages should have special training. I wish to suggest two programmes that are available. One is the applied suicide intervention skills training, ASIST, programme. It is a two-day course in suicide first aid. It is suitable for all kinds of people dealing with the public, for example, health workers, teachers, community workers, gardaí, youth workers, volunteers and people responding to family, friends and co-workers. All aspects of society are covered. The banks should recognise that they have a role in ensuring that their staff are aware of such courses because it reduces the immediate risk of a suicide and increases the support for a person at risk. Completion of the two-day course allows people to recognise the risk factors of suicide and the level of mental stress.

More than 70 trainers have been trained to deliver the course nationwide. The banks should have trainers and train their staff.

The safeTALK course is available also. It is a half-day training programme that prepares participants to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources. These specific skills are called "suicide alertness" and taught with the expectation that the learner will use them to help reduce suicide risk in his or her community. Following the half-day safeTALK workshop, a person will be more willing and able to perform an important role for those with thoughts of suicide. I urge the banks to consider this and take advantage of the courses on offer.

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