Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ministers of State for allowing me the opportunity to speak on the debate. As public representatives, we meet people in a very distressed state from time to time. The anxiety in our communities is at an all-time high following the very difficult year we have had with the Covid pandemic and everything else. We need to accept the real challenges that we will be facing with the effects the pandemic has had on mental health.

Much good work has been done to try to reduce the waiting lists for CAMHS, which I welcome. I ask the Ministers of State present today to adopt a whole-of-government approach to how we deal with the post-pandemic mental health issues that will present in communities. On a daily basis, as public representatives, we hear people, from the very young right through to older people, crying on the phone over some issue they want dealt with. We need to focus clearly on the decongregated settings to ensure the update to A Vision for Change is being implemented and evolving as society is evolving.

Teenagers and younger people who are attending national school and post-primary school are presenting with mental health issues. That needs to be dealt with, but it is very hard to find help. We need to do more and need to be conscious of the existing challenge which will only build a head of steam as they get older.

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