Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

One of the best examples of the Seanad in practice was the Private Members' debate on the national dementia plan held just prior to half term. I wish to raise again the matter of mental health. In October, the Irish Association of Suicidology referred specifically to the lack of regulation for those people offering counselling to those with depression or in need of assistance. There is no regulation. I refer to the advertisement that says it is good to talk. I agree it is good to talk, either, first, if one can afford it; second, if one is already in the care of a doctor; third, if one is certain the person to whom one speaks is indeed qualified and regulated and has done the correct training. Those people who find themselves in need of such talk and such assistance very often take a long time to get to that point and when they do, they may find a person offering assistance who is not qualified to do so. I ask the Leader to urge the Minister concerned to ensure that this is taken very seriously in any review of the mental health strategy and legislation. There is no financial support for people who may not have a doctor or a consultant to assist them but if they seek assistance from a counsellor they are unable to get any funding for that expense. There is often a long queue for such assistance for those with a medical card. This is a matter which escapes when we talk about mental health and in this House we have done much talking about mental health and suicide and the growing concerns in this area. This is a very practical matter and perhaps is a subject we could urge the Minister to examine immediately.