Ms Kate Mitchell:

I thank the Deputy for her question. In terms of the broader question around stigma, some fantastic initiatives are happening at national and local levels. This month sees the green ribbon See Change campaign which has done fantastic work in raising awareness around, and promoting positive attitudes towards, mental health.

Research shows that attitudes towards severe mental health difficulties are still very much lagging behind. We can see that through research carried out quite recently by the National Disability Authority. Members of the public are not as comfortable working with, or living beside, people with mental health difficulties in comparison with individuals in other disability groups. We still have a way to go in challenging attitudes towards more severe mental health difficulties. Measures need to be taken to better support employers in recruiting and retaining people with mental health difficulties and local authorities in placing individuals in secure housing and so on.

Some wonderful work has been carried out by schools, teachers and principals in promoting the mental health of students and ensuring their mental health needs are addressed. We need to see that happening at a national level through national protocols and processes. National guidelines were produced for both primary and post-primary schools in 2013 and 2015, which promoted mental health and well-being. There have been concerns about the lack of implementation of those and lack of resourcing and training for teachers and so on. The key point is that schools really need to be adequately resourced and their staff trained and supported to push that forward.