Seanad debates

Wednesday, 27 June 2018

Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages

 

10:30 am

Photo of Jennifer Murnane O'ConnorJennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. It is important that we thank Senator Joan Freeman for all of the work she has done. She is Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care, of which I am a member. I have seen how hard she works and know how dedicated she is in dealing with mental health issues. The committee has received many reports. Last week it heard a submission by the Mental Health Commission which confirmed that 82 children had been admitted to adult units in 2017, which is unacceptable. It is also unacceptable to them and their families. As Senator Joan Freeman said, it is not good for a child to be placed in an adult service.

I thank the Minister of State for his work on mental health issues, of which there are many. Recently I spoke about the fact that last November as many as 2,223 children and adolescents were on the waiting list for HSE child and adolescent mental health services. I ask the Minister of State to consider this important issue.

CAMHS was mentioned. Last week one of the biggest issues raised at the committee meeting was staffing. CAMHS teams are inadequately staffed.

I have discovered that the level of funding varies from region to region. I firmly believe every region deserves to receive proper funding. It is a major issue for everyone.

The lack of therapists was also mentioned at the committee meeting last week. Another issue raised was that the number of counsellors in schools had been reduced. I ask the Minister of State to commit to raising awareness of the needs of children aged four years and up among parents and families and teachers because such an initiative would make a difference in the long term.

I congratulate Senator Joan Freeman for bringing forward this legislation. As I said, I know how hard she works as Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care, of which I am delighted to be a member. Improving mental health services is one of our biggest challenges. To that end, we need to ensure enough funding is provided. Following this debate I hope greater funding will be committed to tackling this issue. I know that the Minister of State is committed to improving the mental health service. I want us to ensure we will not be back here next year or the year after saying there are not enough beds and that funding is still an issue.

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