Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Browne. I agree with him and I know that the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, does as well. The HSE's mental health services are working with the Department of Health on a project which aims to improve access to mental health information and support through the harnessing of communication technologies. There are a number of strands to this project. First, there will be enhanced web-based mental health information which will be signposted to ensure the widest possible access to information on both mental health conditions and on our mental health services. There will be an enhanced text-based live chat active listening service which will respond to queries on mental health and a telephone service that will direct people to appropriate and relevant mental health support services. There will also be a feasibility study on the provision on online therapies and a framework for the quality standards required for the provision of such services. Included in this work will be a pilot study examining the feasibility and utility of providing access to Internet-based counselling services from a primary care service.

HSE specialist mental health services provide a wide range of talking therapies in both child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and adult mental health services. These include specialist behavioural therapy, specialist cognitive behavioural therapy and behavioural family therapy. Additionally the HSE provides talk therapies at primary care level through directly employed staff, including our psychologists in primary care and our counsellor therapists in counselling in primary care and, as I have outlined, the National Counselling Service. As I have already stated, these services have been enhanced but there is absolutely room to do more in this regard. I agree with the Deputy's sentiment in that respect.

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