Seanad debates

Thursday, 7 November 2002

Report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals, 2001: Statements.

 

There are a couple of matters I would like to raise in relation to this report. The first is the reference to the Garda Síochána and mental health. This is a significant social element because, as the report points out, there are circumstances in which the Garda is among the first agents of the State to come into contact with a situation where there is clearly mental disturbance. What does it do about it? Historically the view taken of the situation was the same as that in relation to a family row. If there was a marital dispute, if there was wife beating, the Garda would encourage the couple to try to make things up, saying it could not get involved because it was a family matter. In addition, its members have no training.

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