Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle as ucht an deis labhartha seo. I welcome the Bill. It is both important and timely and I commend Deputy James Browne on bringing it forward. It is warranted.

For decades we have struggled to adequately finance and operate physical health services. As a result, mental health medical services have always been put to the back of the line. They have not received the priority or attention they so richly deserve. There is now an unacceptable situation throughout the State where many children and young people are experiencing mental health difficulties and not receiving the age-appropriate timely services or supports they badly need. This is impacting on them and also has consequences into adulthood. It also impacts on their families, communities and schools. We need to give it urgent attention. I am pleased the Bill suggests intervention in terms of equivalence and that nothing else is required. This includes specialist 24-hour psychiatric first responders who could be deployed with every ambulance dispatched, with psychiatric consultants and registrars being rostered over 24 hours in every emergency department. We have all heard of situations where young people with mental health difficulties are referred to emergency departments. It is a shocking and humiliating experience for any young person to encounter and must stop. We need specialists in place to deal with the problem.

Community-based primary care services must, as a matter of course, engage specially trained psychiatric medics in GP services. A mental health condition should be treated by such services, with the same access to qualified medical practitioners as someone who presents with any other medical condition. Why should a mental health condition be treated differently?

Mental health care will only attain parity with physical health care when both are co-located within easy access for any member of the public. The underlying premise is that any person at any given time may require mental health care. We need to break down barriers and de-stigmatise the area of mental health. I am keen to acknowledge the great work being done by many organisations throughout the State. Were it not for organisations such as Sosad Ireland, Jigsaw and Pieta House, we would be in even more serious difficulty.

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I hope that serious provision will be made in the upcoming budget for our mental health services this year.

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