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

I welcome the Minister's positive response and the indication that he takes the proposal and this issue seriously. On another day I might debate the under-resourcing of mental health services for young people with the Minister for Health. The Minister has responded positively to this simple, practical and cost-free proposal. The Minister is probably aware that Pieta House is a fantastic charity. A total of 20,000 people have used its services in the past decade, with 5,000 using the service in 2015. Pieta House does not charge anything for its services and one does not need a doctor's referral to get through to it. This is an ideal opportunity to do something, essentially, to normalise access to services which support vulnerable young people who have suicidal feelings who are self-harming so that it just becomes part of the everyday environment that the services for Pieta House are available and young people know where to get them, and that there are no obstacles to accessing the services. I appeal to the Minister to ensure the information is made available in the way outlined in the proposal. I take the point that he cannot impose such an approach but could we issue guidelines suggesting it is done and request that schools would take up this very positive proposal?

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