Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Photo of Mark WardMark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1346. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of the National Traveller Mental Health Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46421/24]

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Traveller Health Action Plan was launched in November 2022. Both the Department of Health and the HSE are committed to developing priorities, strategies and actions on Traveller mental health within the framework of the National Traveller Health Action Plan.

The HSE has established a National Traveller Mental Health Working Group whose purpose is to serve as a central coordination group to monitor progress, streamline, and influence the prioritisation of actions identified in various Mental Health policies and strategies aligned with the National Traveller Health Action Plan.

The Group is chaired by the General Manager of HSE National Mental Health Operations, who reports to the Assistant National Director of National Mental Health Operations. It is made up of representatives from the HSE's Mental Health Operations, the National Office of Suicide Prevention, Service coordinators for Travellers and Social Inclusion Unit. Other members include, a Lived Experience Representative, members of the National Traveller Representative Groups, and officials in the Department of Health.

The Group meets quarterly, in locations which allow for the Group to visit and engage with local groups working on the ground (including with HSE teams supporting Mental Health service delivery to the Traveller and/or Roma Communities in regions, with representative groups, etc.).

In 2024 the group funded and supported Travellers Together Preventing Suicide, an annual campaign at national and local levels which seeks to create awareness and tackle stigma in relation to Traveller suicide.

Through the National Traveller Health Action Plan, 7 Primary Care Support Worker posts have been funded recurrently to work specifically with Travellers with mental health concerns.

Funding was also provided for 10 training courses for those working with Young Travellers. This course teaches participants how to assist a young person who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves, using a practical, evidence-based action plan.

In 2025, 9 Travellers will graduate with NFQ level 5 qualification in Understanding Mental Health through funded Copper Art Skills project. The course is aimed at building capacity of better understanding of mental health in the community, highlighting innovative approaches to engaging the Traveller community, sharing knowledge and experience along with learning the skill set of copper art.

In Budget 2025, significant additional ring-fenced funding of €365,000 was secured for Traveller mental health initiatives. In addition, funding of €200,000 for the National Traveller Counselling service which was allocated on a once-off basis for 2024, has been mainstreamed under Budget 2025, bringing the total funding for Traveller mental health to €565,000. This will build on previous years to expand the National Traveller Counselling Service to also provide services to young Travellers, ensuring that this culturally inclusive counselling service receives the support that it needs.

In addition, funding will be provided for two dedicated Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses (SCAN), who will work directly with Travellers and provide training and support to the network of other SCAN nurses across the country. Funding has also been made available for other culturally appropriate suicide bereavement supports for Travellers, ensuring that the services provided at what is a very sensitive time for families and communities, are responsive to their particular needs. This will provide ringfenced supports with oversight from the National Traveller Mental Health Working Group.

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