James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, and all the contributors to the motion. It arose out of the reports of both the Mental Health Commission and the Inspector of Mental Health Services, which highlighted some of the progress that has been made in mental health, but also many of the deficiencies and unacceptable situations in facilities for people with mental health issues. I thank the Mental Health Commission and Mental Health Reform for their excellent work on mental health over a consistent period. I also acknowledge the important work they do in highlighting issues relating to mental health services to ensure that what we are doing, or are trying to do, will be beneficial to people suffering from mental health issues. Mental health staff acknowledge that they are under significant pressure and that their own mental health can also suffer when there is a serious shortage of staff.

I acknowledge the families and service users who this is all about. I speak to parents regularly, including today in Wexford, who are often dealing with difficult situations, perhaps with their children but sometimes with their parents or other family members. They find it distressing, frustrating, and at times devastating to have to deal with these situations every day. They also experience frustration in trying to access the services they need for their children, who find it difficult to understand or comprehend the situations they find themselves in.

Rates of self-harm are on the increase. That is not the Government's fault. It is a reflection of modern society, and of social media in particular, whether it is from body dysmorphia through Instagram, or bullying. When I was young, if someone was being bullied, it stopped at the school gates or on the way home, but now bullying follows people all the way home, up the stairs, and into their bedrooms. For many young people suffering from anxiety, depression, or bullying, sleep deprivation seems to be massive issue, because they are stuck on their iPads or phones. It is hard for them not to do that, but social media is having a major impact. It is a great experiment in some ways, because no generation before them has had to go through it.

Suicide remains the biggest cause of death among young people aged 15 to 24, and prescription of antidepressants is on the increase. I have no doubt it is being prescribed where necessary, but in the past year, €400 million was spent on antidepressants while only €10 million was spent on talk therapies. The Minister of State is strong on early intervention, but that balance needs to be changed, so we can achieve earlier intervention as quickly as possible. Everything escalates when the services are not there, and children then end up in emergency departments. There has been a significant increase in the number of children attending emergency departments in my county as well. We have to find a way to progress, because we all want the same thing. I do not question the Minister of State's bona fides for one second. He has worked hard in the Department to try to achieve the necessary changes in services, but I sometimes wonder whether mental health is given the seriousness and focus it needs within the higher echelons. More and more money is being put into mental health services but we are not seeing the outcomes we need.

I thank the Minister of State, and all the contributors to the debate. We have used up all the allocated time and many other people would have liked to contribute.

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