Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this very important issue regarding the treatment of and discrimination against those who suffer from mental health conditions and the families of those who have completed suicide. It involves the use of negative labels to identify people with mental health problems and has its roots in fear and misunderstanding. Many hold negative opinions towards people with mental health problems because they do not understand the issues involved and rely on myths and misconceptions. The core issues arising from social stigma are that in general people have little understanding of mental health problems and much of the information they have is factually incorrect. Anxiety, fear and avoidance are common feelings experienced by people with mental health problems and discrimination is imposed on them. People with mental health difficulties must enjoy the same rights on an equal basis with all others in society.

Stigma can be deeply hurtful and isolating and is one of the most significant problems encountered by people with a mental illness. Learning to live with mental health problems is made more difficult when somebody experiences the prejudice caused by stigma which can be used to exclude and marginalise. The prejudice and fear caused by stigma may and does prevent people from coming forward to seek the help they need. It can also frustrate those who look for improvements in mental health services because the stigma prevents those affected from demanding that proper services be made available. It can also stop people offering help or being supportive, inhibit people in getting the jobs they are qualified to do and prevent people with mental health problems from playing an active role in the community.

The See Change programme introduced by the previous Government is a targeted programme under which excellent work is done but much more needs to be done. The Minister of State might outline the budget for next year and the projected outcome this year of the programme which campaigns for the promotion of understanding of mental health issues and a reduction of the stigma attached. It does this through a targeted, community-driven approach and has the potential to effect change within society and help to lay the necessary foundations for a real and positive transformation of how mental health problems are perceived.

St. Patrick's Hospital published the findings of a survey in September which showed people tended to understate the level of stigma, given the fact that many who respond to such surveys do not want to admit to holding negative views. Over 20% of those surveyed believed those with mental health problems were of below average intelligence; 40% considered seeking help for a mental health problem to be a sign of personal failure; 66% experienced a reluctance to hire a person with a history of mental illness, believing him or her to be unreliable; while 30% said they would not be willing to accept someone with a mental health problem as a close friend. Amnesty International found in its research that 94% of those who suffered from a mental health problem had experienced unfair treatment; 70% concealed mental health problems; 50% had stopped having close relationships; 60% had stopped working; and 40% had stopped engaging in education. This is an indication of the level of stigma in society towards those with mental health problems.

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