Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I commend Sinn Féin on raising this issue. In two minutes, one can say very little but I want to make a general point and a specific point.

The mental health crisis is serious and getting worse. As well as dealing with such matters as treatment and facilities, one also must ask the question, "Why?" There is a clear documented relationship between the rise in unemployment and the rise in suicide levels. The senior public health doctor in the NHS in Britain yesterday came out and said that if they moved to a four-day week, they would contribute more to reducing the level of stress and anxiety-related illness that is overwhelming the British health service. Cuts, austerity and unemployment - all the issues that are worsening the situation for many ordinary people - are contributing directly to a mental health crisis and, therefore, health services are overwhelmed.

In response to this, there is a consensus about A Vision for Change and having a common shared view about how we address this mental health crisis. A Vision for Change is a wonderful document. The problem is the resources are not being put in place to make it a reality and the claim that progress is being made is just not true. Under A Vision for Change, it was proposed there should be 12,000 staff in mental health services. At that time, there was 10,000 staff and now there are 9,000. A Vision for Change proposed an increase in the number of staff in this area, but there has been a reduction and the resources are not being put in. Similarly, with children being admitted to adult hospitals, the situation is not being progressed. There are still large numbers, which is unacceptable. The alternatives for children are not being put in place.

Lastly, the multidisciplinary teams are not being staffed. Some 54% of the multidisciplinary teams do not have enough staff to function.

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