Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend my colleague Deputy James Browne for introducing this Bill which seeks to put mental health on a par with physical health. The aim is to provide equality of access to care and treatment for every patient. There is no doubt, given the lack of resources, that we are now rationing mental health services. People who need treatments and therapies are being told that they can access one, two or three hours of same but no more than that. That is not sufficient to deal with patients' needs and provide them with the services they require. Only 6% of the overall health budget is spent on mental health services which is very low by international standards and must be increased. One of the key issues that need to be addressed is the lack of out-of-hours mental health services, particularly in rural communities such as mine in County Mayo where the only out-of-hours option is to present at the emergency department. Let us think about that for one moment; think about a person in severe mental distress presenting at an emergency department which is overcrowded, under-resourced, manic and chaotic. That is no place for somebody suffering with severe mental health difficulties.

The cost of treatment is also an issue. Cognitive behavioural therapies, CBT, and other talk therapies which we know are effective are not being provided to the level required. Medication is often the first port of call and while there is a place for it, we must also adequately resource the provision of talk therapies. A single CBT session can cost between €80 and €120 per hour, which is far beyond the reach of most individuals. Many talk therapies are out of the reach of people who are relying on the public health system and cannot gain access to such treatments.

We do not have equality of access to care and treatment. If someone has private health insurance or adequate resources to pay for private treatment, he or she will probably be okay, but the public health system is not functioning properly for those with mental health difficulties who do not have insurance or sufficient means. We see the reliance of many on organisations such as Pieta House, the annual fundraising walk of which, Darkness into Light, will take place soon. That annual event shows that communities and citizens across the country are voluntarily giving of their time and own money to fund mental health services which should be funded by the State. If we did not have such voluntary services and charitable organisations, where would we be? Many communities would be devoid of any mental health service.

I commend the Bill to the House and urge the Government to address both the non-existence of out-of-hours services in most communities and the very low percentage of the overall health budget spent on mental health services.

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