Ms Ber Grogan:

Deputy Lahart made some great points about how this legislation deals with the acute end of mental health difficulties. Over the past two years the Covid pandemic has resulted in considerable discussion on mental health, well-being and looking after our mental health. However, as the Deputy said, these are for people at the more acute end. In preparing for today, I looked at some of the HSE national clinical programmes, one of which is the early intervention in psychosis programme. One of our member organisations, Shine, has a particular interest in that programme.

During Covid, we had partnered with the HSE on a youth mental health Covid online webinar. There was the voice of a lived experience from someone who started to hear voices and such and did not feel he could talk to people about it, whereas other people were talking about going for a walk and getting out in the air. The clinical programme has 20 years of data, according to which an estimated 1,500 people could develop a psychosis disorder in their lifetime. There would be a delay of between 18 months and two years in looking for the support and treatment because people try to get through this themselves. They feel there is still a stigma and no conversations around this mental health difficulty.

On the economical side of it, it is said to be an invest-to-save programme. For each €1 invested in the early intervention in psychosis programme, €18 is then saved by reducing admissions, relapse and such. Some very good national clinical programmes are happening in some parts of the country. It would be a pity if it were to be a postcode lottery of where they can be accessed.

It also comes back to the community and voluntary sectors, which are doing great work in their communities and having the first point of contact before it gets to that point of needing acute care. If those facilities are locally accessible and affordable in our communities, it is hoped a greater cohort of those starting to go through psychosis, eating disorders or other mental health difficulties will be caught.