Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to highlight an urgent crisis in mental health services in my constituency of Laois and all across Ireland. Save Our Sons and Daughters, SOSAD, is a vital front-line mental health organisation. It is on the brink of closure due to financial constraints at a time when its services have never been in more demand. Last week alone, SOSAD in Portlaoise saw 108 clients compared to 45 during the same week last year. These are people in deep distress, many of whom have nowhere else to turn. SOSAD's interventions save lives. They prevent suicide, provide emergency counselling and ensure people in crisis receive urgent support. SOSAD does not just support people in County Laois. For nearly two decades, SOSAD has been a lifeline for thousands of people in crisis all over Ireland. It has provided free, accessible mental health supports to those at their most vulnerable. Its work in suicide intervention, crisis intervention and bereavement support has saved countless lives. Despite the growing mental health crisis in our communities, this essential service now faces the very real threat of shutting down due to a lack of financial support.

Suicide remains a national tragedy that affects families in every county. SOSAD has been there for people who have nowhere else to turn. It has bridged the gap left by our overstretched public mental health services.It provides immediate access to professional counselling, a service that simply does not exist in a timely manner under the HSE’s current structure.

Despite the growing demand, however, SOSAD has been forced to cut back services. It has had to suspend its text service due to the lack of funding, reducing accessibility for those who may not be able to make a call or attend in person. This means that some of the most vulnerable people, those struggling in silence, are now left without the immediate support they desperately need. SOSAD Portlaoise operates with skeleton staff and relies on the dedication of 33 volunteer counsellors. They are doing everything in their power to keep the service running but the passion and commitment alone cannot keep the lights on. They cannot do it alone.

SOSAD is in the process of applying for HSE governance, a necessary step to secure long-term funding, but this process takes time and the harsh reality is that it may be forced to close its doors before it is complete. What happens to the hundreds of people in Laois who rely on SOSAD if the doors close while they wait for their funding? What alternatives exist for those in immediate crisis? There are none. We cannot allow this to happen. This is an issue of life and death. I urge the Government to take immediate action and improve emergency interim funding for SOSAD to keep this life-saving service open.

Mental health services should not have to rely on charity alone. It is the Government’s responsibility to ensure essential supports like SOSAD are properly funded. This is not just about budgets or funding structures. It is about saving lives. We must not let SOSAD collapse due to bureaucracy or financial shortfalls when it is out there preventing suicide and supporting our most vulnerable. I urge the Government to please take action now.