Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion. I thank those responsible for bringing it before the House and raising this very important issue. I have long advocated that mental health needs to be treated more seriously. Time and again, we hear those in government talk about the challenges of tackling mental health and the many actions they will bring to deal with the issue. The truth is that the Government is not taking the issue seriously enough. Mental health issues, particularly among our younger generation, is getting worse. Stress, anxiety and fear are growing among our younger generation and we must put in place measures that will prevent this from getting worse.

While I welcome the motion before the House, I support my colleagues in the Regional Group, who have tabled an amendment that my colleagues will address. The statistics are truly shocking. At present, 2,551 children and young people are awaiting child and adolescent mental health services and, shockingly, 8,893 children are awaiting primary care psychological treatment. In addition, 1,553 adults are awaiting primary care psychological treatment from the HSE. These are shocking statistics of which we must all be ashamed.

The World Health Organization recommends that a minimum of 14% of a country's overall health budget be allocated to mental health challenges, while Sláintecare recommends a minimum mental health budget of 10%. The Government's spend on mental health in 2020 accounted for only 5.2% of the overall health budget, almost two thirds less than what is recommended by the World Health Organization. Will the Government please explain this? The bottom line is waiting lists for mental health services prior to Covid were at crisis levels and, to put it mildly, are now at emergency levels. The Mental Health Commission even told the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response that Ireland's mental healthcare system is not fit for purpose and is out of date and, furthermore, that substantial additional investment is needed to address this. The bottom line is we need to act now.

I have dealt with numerous issues with the Crosslanes centre in Drogheda and we have seen at first hand how inadequate this service is. It is simply not fit for purpose. The Minister of State stated that mental health difficulties remain a priority. The HSE website states that one in four people will experience some mental health difficulties in his or her lifetime, that mental health treatment will usually come from one's GP and that mental health services must be provided via a referral from a GP. Doctors need help. A doctor in Dundalk referred a patient numerous times to the Crosslanes centre and the patient was sent back each time. The doctor could not do any more and the patient needed someone with more experience. That young person ultimately committed suicide. Will the Minister of State please investigate what is happening in Crosslanes? The building was completed in 2016 and looks fantastic. People in the area need help. Will the Minister of State please look into the matter?

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