Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to comment on Senator Ardagh's contribution about domestic violence. Research was published last week that shows one in six pregnant women is at risk of mental ill health and depression. The subject of domestic abuse against pregnant women was included in the research, but it did not go in to detail, and the rage that is displayed against them and their unborn child. I welcome the research. It is a very worthwhile discussion. We need to keep it in the headlines.

I also wish to raise a good news story with regard to mental health. Yesterday the Housing Agency and the HSE launched a book containing housing design guidelines for providing accommodation for those who live with persistent mental health conditions. At a time when we seem to be trying to break down walls brick by brick to try to secure more funding for mental health services, especially in the area of 24-7 crisis intervention, this story is uplifting. I wholeheartedly commend the staff of the HSE and the Housing Agency who were involved inputting together this 121 page booklet which took four years of work. I believe it is the first of its kind in the world.What is most pleasing is that the majority of measures outlined in this booklet are not costly. The authors provide simple solutions for those with severe cognitive impairment and memory loss which will make their lives simpler and enable them to live independently. The booklet is particularly welcome in the context of the planned large-scale building of social housing which I hope will begin without delay. A point to note is that the booklet only relates to houses. The guidelines therein should be adapted for use in hospitals, primary care centres, mental health residential care centres, GP surgeries, schools, colleges and so forth. I hope this is the start of a process of changing our way of thinking about this issue.

I cannot conclude without mentioning the urgent need for the full implementation of A Vision for Change and the most pressing need for the provision of 24/7 crisis intervention services. An online petition on mental health services launched by the Uplift organisation yesterday has had thousands of responses so far.

I thank and congratulate the staff of the HSE on this most welcome piece of work, of which they and the service users should be extremely proud.