Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last week, I raised the revelations on RTE that senior doctors cited nine suicides in mental health service users in the Carlow-Kilkenny and south Tipperary area between August 2011 and January 2013. This tragic development has highlighted the problem with the mental health services. I also raised the lack of out-of-hours services which contributed to 90 admissions of children to adult inpatient units last year.

The CEO of the Children's Rights Alliance says that this issue is a clear breach of children's rights. It must be tackled as a matter of extreme urgency.

The report of the Inspectorate of Mental Health Services has stated that hundreds of psychiatric patients who moved out of mental hospitals in recent decades are living in unsuitable conditions with limited access to health or care professionals. Since 2007, staffing in mental health services has been reduced by the implementation of recruitment embargoes and employment moratoriums. These policies are endangering the delivery of efficient community-based services as envisaged in A Vision for Change, the Government's mental health strategy.

Given the various issues that have arisen in recent weeks, it is clear that there is a crisis in mental health provision. I see that myself in my constituency clinics in Louth and I am sure that every Member of the Oireachtas has had the same experience.

I commend Teachta Ó Caoláin for bringing forward this motion, which seeks to refocus the Oireachtas, public opinion and the Department of Health on mental health and suicide prevention. It stresses the need to implement A Vision for Change by ensuring sufficient resources and a firm political commitment across all parties and by the Government.

We need to be able to measure in a regular and planned way the mental well-being of our society. A key priority for suicide prevention must be the development of adequate 24/7 crisis support services for people experiencing severe mental or emotional distress. That is not currently the case.

An Teachta Ellis has raised the issue of vulnerable young people presenting with serious mental health issues, but who are being turned away from hospitals due to a lack of beds and staff to provide care across the capital. Lives are being put at risk because there are not enough beds and not enough nurses and doctors in place to care for these citizens. They are citizens who, due to their mental health problems, are a danger to themselves and to others, yet they are being turned away. Doctors and nurses are working hard to care for these clients but cannot deal with the volume of people who need their care.

The Government's framework for suicide prevention should prioritise young people, given the clear evidence that early intervention is cost effective. We need to target marginalised groups such as minority ethnic communities, including Travellers among whom the incidence of suicide is much higher, and the homeless. This is not rocket science. It is quite obvious that people who are in difficulties in their lives or who are subject to disadvantage or discrimination will or possibly can experience mental health problems.

These difficulties affect thousands of people across the State. I meet more and more people who have difficulties that require attention. A mentally healthy citizen is a positive resource. We are a small island community and suicide does not recognise the Border, so there needs to be a joined up all-Ireland approach to the hugely important issue of mental health. The good mental health of one person contributes to and supports the overall well-being of society.

I do not see the sense of the Government's amendment. We are not in disagreement here and we support A Vision for Change. I would like to think, as Teachta Tóibín said earlier, that the Government will support the Sinn Féin motion. Having done that, we will then need action and implementation. I commend the motion to all TDs.

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