Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 7 November 2023
Committee on Mental Health
Mental Health Care for Migrants and Ethnic Minorities: Discussion
Ms Fiona Coyle:
I want to make a final broad point on the move from a needs-based to a human rights-based model. The Deputy referred to the UNCRPD, which is doing that for the community in question. It is the same for every individual. It is not about a diagnosis, but rather about understanding the journey, what happened to people and how they got there. It is important that we consider the area of intersectionality. People do not fit into neat boxes. As services and organisations, we are trying to work together more. People are from ethnic minority groups, women, part of the LGBTQI community or living with a physical disability. Everyone is very layered. The point I made earlier was that this requires breaking down some of the walls in Departments and agencies and considering how we can support people in their journey of life and the complexities that come with that.