Seanad debates

Wednesday, 1 February 2017

Commencement Matters

Mental Health Services

10:30 am

Photo of Gabrielle McFaddenGabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept that significant work is ongoing. While I also accept and acknowledge the commitment of the Minister of State to the issue, there is a serious need for 24-7 emergency care for people with mental health issues.

The Midlands Simon Community obviously is based in the midlands and recently, it had a client in emergency accommodation who was taken to a psychiatric service because he was suicidal. The person was sent home or back to the emergency accommodation. The Midlands Simon Community then had to monitor that person all night to ensure that he did not self-harm.

The Simon Communities and other similar organisations do not have the facilities or money to put staff in place. It is not appropriate to have one member of staff in emergency accommodation to monitor someone with a mental health issue. That person cannot be expected to do that job and look out for others in the service as well.

Another area that needs to be examined is funding and training for staff in organisations like the Midlands Simon Community and other organisations. It is also important that no one is turned away from a psychiatric service. A lady who visited my clinic last year went thrice to St. Loman's Hospital, Mullingar to state she was suicidal. Each time she was sent away and told she was not.If someone is trying to commit a person, that is one matter, but if a person turns up, stating he or she is suicidal, the person should never be turned away.

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