Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted with and very proud of my party colleague, Deputy James Browne, for introducing this Bill. Time and again persons with mental health difficulties are sidelined and made to feel that their plight comes secondary to those with physical health issues.

It is both sad and embarrassing to have to admit that the real gravity of the mental health situation in Ireland is unknown because we are only aware of those suffering once they take the brave step to seek help.

The purpose of the Bill is to introduce parity of esteem. This needs to be the new phrase when speaking about mental health. All aspects of health have to be addressed on an equal footing. Mental health should not be referred to as though it is a separate sector. For too long mental health organisations have been surviving on the remnants of the health budget once every other sector of the health service has been funded. This does not help waiting lists, which are currently unacceptable. Pieta House will host its tenth Darkness into Light event in ten days' time. More than 200,000 people will walk side by side in their communities to raise money to fund its brilliant services.

People understand the necessity to have mental health normalised and treated as the serious health issue it is. Many of the amazing facilities, of which we are all aware, receive no funding from Government. There is a fantastic facility in West Cork called Lisheens House. I shall attend a meeting there tomorrow evening to discuss issues around rural isolation. The staff there have said that lack of knowledge is the biggest barrier for them. They are currently providing question, persuade and refer, QPR, training to 40 people. In addition, they have eight counsellors providing counselling in six locations in Cork and they have a helpline that is getting busier by the day. This service is all financed by local fundraising. They do not have money to advertise and the service relies on word of mouth. How can this be acceptable in the 21st century?

We need to bring Ireland into line with international best standards and this Bill is a huge step in the right direction.

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