Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mental Health Reform has indicated that the Covid-19 pandemic is leading to a surge in mental health issues and a recent report by the mental health department of the World Health Organization, WHO, to the UN stated that, "the world could expect to see an upsurge in the severity of mental illness, including amongst children, young people and healthcare workers". The report continued by stating, “The mental health and well-being of whole societies have been severely impacted by this crisis and are a priority to be addressed urgently.”

The mental health consequences of the lockdown and the well-being of individuals, particularly among the elderly who have to cocoon in their own homes as well as in nursing homes, will be a major factor in the increasing demands on services. The lack of contact for many elderly people with their families and friends is particularly devastating, and has made their isolation a greater burden for them to bear. It has been recognized that, in general, older people are especially vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation, which contributes to a downward spiral in their morale and mental well-being. This enforced isolation is causing even greater loneliness for many elderly people as they do not have the means to alleviate this loneliness by meeting friends and family or participating in social activities.

This is just one aspect of the types of mental health issues arising during this crisis. Those working on the front line of this pandemic are under greater stresses and pressures with regard to their mental health.

Service users or those trying to access mental health services are struggling to avail of those services that were previously available. How they utilise such services has changed substantially in this crisis as they cannot be counselled on a face-to-face basis. This is having a considerable effect on their mental well-being and ability to cope.

Anecdotally, I have been made aware of an increase in both suicidal ideation as well as deaths by suicide. I have also been told that there appears to have been little or no recruitment of peer-support workers, psychiatric nurses or psychiatric consultants, or putting in place of outreach services to address the increase in demand expected for such services and facilities. Under A Vision For Change, this was meant to have happened. This crisis makes it even more urgent. What are the Minister's plans to rectify this gaping hole in mental health services, what is the present situation in regards to recruitment and how many volunteers have been utilised from the 40,000 plus who signed up?

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