Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I wish to share time with Deputies McConalogue and Browne.

We welcome the opportunity to speak on the issue of mental health in this Chamber. Many positive things have happened over the last couple of years, particularly the acknowledgement of society that this is an issue that must be dealt with and that we need to open up and talk about it more. We will have debates and disagree on certain issues with regard to the treatment of mental health problems and the development of therapies, but in the broader context, we still need a cultural change in how we view mental health and how we deal with it as individuals and collectively as a society, including medical professionals.

There is now a strong acknowledgement that A Vision for Change is the blueprint for our approach. It is the programme we have all bought into in considering how to deal with the challenges in our society. However, because there is such a collective buy-in to A Vision for Change, one could be concerned that it would slip down the political agenda, although I know the Minister of State's commitment to it is very strong. Because we are all in agreement on the need to deal with these challenges for individuals who suffer from mental health issues and on the need for investment in programmes to deal not only with individuals but with society at large, the larger issue can drift off the agenda. For that reason, this motion gives us an opportunity to ensure that A Vision for Change is seen as a document to be upheld and supported, and, more importantly, that we actually act upon what is contained in it. Clearly, there is an implementation plan and the next issue is for it to be published. Some of the soundings from the Department and the HSE give cause for concern. Will the directorate for mental health oversee the full implementation of A Vision for Change? Where is it and when will those involved be appointed? This will be a key indication of the Government's commitment to A Vision for Change. Until we see the directorate in place, a strong commitment in terms of finance and a prioritisation by the Government, then A Vision for Change is simply a document as opposed to a living, breathing manifestation of what we all agree upon in the Chamber and elsewhere in terms of dealing with mental health.

Recent years have seen great changes. Senator Averil Power raised an issue recently in the Seanad. I call on the Minister of State to consider the case of Lois Bridges clinic in Sutton which treats eating disorders. Its work has been recommended by the Mental Health Commission and I wish to make a strong plea on behalf of the clinic. I realise Senator Power has raised the matter on several occasions in the Seanad. I urge the Minister of State to do whatever she can to ensure funding and to provide the support necessary to deal with such disorders, which are in a knock-on effect from the challenges and pressures that exist as well as the changes in society.

Broadly speaking, mental health is an issue with many facets. We can deal with it in isolation as individuals whereby we drift further into the darkness or we can light up as stated in A Vision for Change and we can embrace and acknowledge the difficulties individuals have and we can ensure they can have the confidence and support in the medical services and in society at large such that they can come forward and get the best treatment. In this regard the Government is following on from the work of previous Governments in the primary care setting since it is where front line services are delivered.

Mental health affects one in four of us at some stage in our lives, an alarming statistic which shows the importance of ensuring that we deal with it upfront in the community setting and in the context of primary care units. There must be access to councillors and psychologists and general practitioners. We must address this area. Sometimes there is excessive prescribing of certain medicines for treatment of mental health but there should be a strong emphasis on training and retraining of general practitioners since they are the front line care providers in the primary care setting that has been established and rolled out in recent years and which is being continued under this Government.

All of these reasons highlight the importance of the matter but it is more important that we encourage the Minister and the Government so that they ensure A Vision for Change becomes a living document. Only when it becomes a living document will it make an impact on people's lives and only then will it save people's lives.

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