Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As this is world mental health day, I take the opportunity to urge public awareness of mental health issues and ask the Leader to arrange at a future date a discussion on mental health issues. I commend the HSE, in particular people from HSE west, with whom I spent a few hours on Saturday distributing leaflets highlighting mental health issues and trying to negative the stigma associated with mental health which is obviously based on fear and misunderstanding. It is important the House devotes some time to discussing mental health and mental health funding, to highlighting the fact there is help for people and that they should not feel isolated and alone or that there is nobody to whom to talk or to turn. We need to publicise the fact there is help out there and make people aware that the HSE in every town and community is there to assist people. World mental health day provides us with an opportunity to fly the flag for mental health and make people aware it is an ordinary illness and that there is treatment, help and very significant support for them.

In other parts of the world that is not the case. Some 350 million people worldwide suffer the effects of depression. In some countries fewer than 10% of those who need treatment have the opportunity to avail of it. That is in stark contrast with Ireland which this year allocated an additional ¤35 million towards mental health and mental health treatment. I urge colleagues to spread the word in their communities that help is available for people suffering from depression and that they should not feel alone.