Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. It is very easy to criticise, but if I might make a suggestion, could a 24-hour helpline be introduced for GPs when young people - young children in some cases but also young adults - with their parents present with suicidal tendencies? At present these young people are referred to an accident and emergency department, which is totally unsuitable. Nine times out of ten they are sent back home with their parents, which causes serious anxiety. A helpline for GPs could be put in place whereby someone would be qualified enough to speak to these people. Perhaps that is all it takes sometimes. Might the Minister of State consider this into the future?

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