Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on one of the most pressing issues of our time, mental health. Like many Deputies, I had to make a number of requests for speaking time on this issue, which gives an indication of the impact of mental health problems in every constituency. Depression, anxiety and other such conditions do not discriminate but affect people of all ages and backgrounds at any stage in their lives. Addressing this issue is a huge challenge for our new Minister for Health and I wish him and the Minister of State well in that respect.

I recently met with the Kilkenny consumer panel on mental health services, a voluntary group of service users, family members and staff working in partnership to improve local mental health services. They are extremely concerned that the mental health budget has been raided to the tune of €12 million. We all understand there are great pressures on the health services in this country but I cannot overstate my view strongly enough that mental health services should not be subject to any diminution of funding.

The mental health situation in this country is reaching epidemic levels and we need investment, as opposed to cuts, to improve staffing levels, the provision of services and the quality of care available in all parts of the country. Service users, their families and friends and those who continue to suffer in silence need to see investment in psychiatry and psychology health professionals. They need sustained and meaningful engagement between the Department of Health and groups such as the Kilkenny consumer panel to identify the best ways to help those who suffer the most and those who suffer in silence. People who come forward and speak openly about their experience with mental health problems are to be commended for doing so as they inspire hope for those who remain silent. However, it is those who suffer in silence who are most at risk of allowing a mental health problem to fester and manifest itself through real physical harm, such as suicide. The Kilkenny consumer panel recently wrote to the Minister expressing its legitimate concerns. I have a copy of that correspondence for the Minister if he or the Minister of State would like to see it following this debate.

Groups such as Men's Sheds have saved countless lives and must be supported further. I met with the group's CEO, Mr. Barry Sheridan, recently and he explained to me that it has a budget shortfall of €200,000 per year. This is a lifesaving network that is attended by more than 10,000 men per week in 300 communities in Ireland. Mr. Sheridan explained to me that the group receives three or four requests for new sheds to be set up every week. This means there are three or four communities coming forward every week seeking help from Men's Sheds because of the demand for effective mental health services that work in their towns or villages.

The HSE must provide avenues of funding to groups such as Men's Sheds but I dare say that their work is being undervalued. Increased investment could go a long way in such organisations and, ultimately, save lives.

Will the Minister of State address the clear and apparent problems we are having with recruitment? What action is she undertaking to find out why psychiatry and psychology graduates are choosing not to enter our mental health service and what provisions are being pursued to ensure that such posts are filled in the future?

Fianna Fáil is committed to reviewing what still remains to be achieved under A Vision for Change and it wants to see an updated plan for 2016-2026. A Vision for Change was brought in for the 2007-2011 period by the former Minister of State, John Moloney, who had forward thinking ideas about mental health. We all know about what were the old mental homes and we know of the importance of getting people out and integrated into the community. That was what A Vision for Change was about and it needs to be pursued by this Government. We need to properly fund our mental health services as current funding is insufficient to deliver the staffing levels envisaged by A Vision for Change.

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