Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise this matter. A very serious situation has developed within the mental health services. To date, resources have been cut unfairly and disproportionately with spending reduced by 9.2% between 2006 and 2009. Currently, 5.3% of the overall health budget is allocated to mental health. That is its lowest level in modern history. In 1997, the allocation was 7%. Some years prior to that it was 13%. In the 1960s the allocation was 20%. The allocation on mental health in England and Wales is 13% while it is 18% in Scotland, yet we are down at 5.3%. This is at a time when there is an increase in mental health difficulties resulting from the economic crisis. The effect on public health is severe.

Having caused or contributed significantly to the economic crisis the Minister has a responsibility to respond to the resulting needs arising from the difficulties. People are coping with job insecurity, economic uncertainty and strain, loss of income, home repossession and restricted access to credit. That has led to a reduction in mental health well-being and marriage breakdown resulting in divorce. Serious difficulties arise due to tensions caused in families. Families break up because of the strains resulting from the economic situation. People in those positions have a loss of perceived self-worth. They suffer from a loss of daily purpose and structure. People have reduced social contact and they experience an increase in social isolation and suicidal behaviour both in terms of non-fatal self-harm and completed suicide.

It is accepted that suicide rates in 2009 increased by 25% due to the economic crisis. Each of the cases concerned represents a family in crisis. A single suicide is one too many. An increase in the rate of suicide by 25% indicates a significant increase in the level of difficulty created in many families and communities. The Government must respond to the developing situation. To date, 527 deaths have resulted from suicide. It is accepted that such deaths are under-reported for a variety of reasons. A conservative estimate is that more than 600 people died by suicide last year.

There has also been a 10% increase in self-harm. Approximately 11,000 people present at accident and emergency units having self-harmed. It is accepted by the experts that when one adds those who are treated by their general practitioner or whose family hide the fact that they self-harm, the figure rises to 70,000 people who attempt suicide and self-harm in this country every year.

The report of the independent monitoring group on the Government's policy, A Vision for Change - a blueprint for improving the psychiatric service - is a severe indictment of the Minister for Health and Children. It is not acceptable that little substantial progress was made in 2009 in implementing A Vision for Change. The lack of clarity around the new assistant director for mental health is a serious issue, as it was one of the key recommendations of A Vision for Change in terms of developing mental health services.

The monitoring group expressed frustration and confusion about constantly changing management structures in the mental health service. The revenue allocation envisaged for A Vision for Change was not delivered in 2009 and 2010 as promised. In the absence of new capital and revenue it is difficult to see how the Health Service Executive and the Government can achieve their objective to implement A Vision for Change. The Minister should seriously examine the matter before there are any cuts and ensure that people have some hope of a response from the system in their crisis so that suicides will not increase any further.

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