James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Fianna Fáil Bill that attempts to amend part of the Mental Health Act will go through Second Stage in the Seanad in October. Effectively, that is an attempt to force the Government's hand to bring forward the comprehensive Bill that is required to reform the Mental Health Act in light of modern human rights changes in that area. Mr. John Saunders, chairman of the Mental Health Commission, said: "These community residences have become too large by accommodating too many people, creating a number of mini institutions... These residences are not regulated and yet they provide care to a large number of vulnerable people with mental illnesses." The Minister of State must be aware of the comments of the Mental Health Commission. These stem from the recent publication of a report on Roscommon mental health services. The external review found that mental health services in the county were marked by control, negativity and a culture of blame. The author of the report said that some senior staff normalised bad behaviour while others perpetuated it. The evidence is available. I have no doubt that what happened in Roscommon is happening in other parts of the country. This issue will become worse and will perpetuate itself unless proper investigations and assessments are made in these areas.

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