COMMENT: Mental health call for next Government

WE all know that mental health is an important issue. One in seven adults will have experienced a mental health difficulty in the past year. 

That’s almost half a million people – our neighbours, our colleagues, our family members, ourselves. 

Thankfully these days, the message that ‘it’s okay not to feel okay and it’s absolutely okay to ask for help’ is being shared widely. 

When people do reach out for help, it’s important that there are good quality mental health services and supports that are easily accessible to people in their local area, to help them in their recovery.

But Ireland’s mental health system is under severe strain due to decades of under-investment, in Dublin and elsewhere. 

While the staff in mental health services continue to provide support to thousands of people in distress every year, the system is unsustainable with resources running 22 per cent below recommended levels. 

In 2013, 101 people lost their lives to suicide in Dublin city and county. It is vital that community based mental health services are there to support people when they need it. 

Mental Health Reform (MHR), the national coalition on mental health, has been holding public meetings across the country to hear people’s experiences of mental health services.

The feedback MHR got was very clear: People said that sitting in A&E when they’re feeling suicidal is frightening, that having to wait months for support doesn’t help, that they want to work and live a full life in their community. 

There has been investment in mental health in primary care and now GPs can refer people with medical cards for counselling instead of having only medication to offer. 

But despite some positive developments, the overwhelming message from people is still that change is needed, that good quality services must be available all across Ireland and not just in particular areas.

We, as a nation, have an opportunity in the coming weeks to make the mental wellbeing of the country a priority for the next Government. Each of us can remind candidates that mental health matters and ask for specific commitments that will improve the system. 

The #ourstateofmind campaign aims to give people who care about mental health the tools to do just that.

There are real steps that the next Government can take such as establishing a nationwide programme to build resilience in our children and young people; making sure that people in distress have access to 24/7 crisis supports; and prioritising easy access to counselling and psychological therapies for all people in difficulty so that early intervention can prevent longer-term difficulties. 

Mental Health Reform’s full Manifesto, available at https://www.mentalhealthreform.ie/our-state-of-mind, includes more actions the next Government can take to improve the system.

What if mental health isn’t made a priority? What if it’s a case of business as usual? If we don’t raise our voices and cast our votes with mental health in mind, we will have missed a unique opportunity to push the next Government for firm commitments to continue the reform of Ireland’s mental health system. 

Supporting the mental wellbeing of the population is the best way to ensure Ireland’s recovery. Now is the time to let candidates know it. 

If you are concerned about good mental health services, join the ‘Our State of Mind’ campaign via www.mentalhealthreform.ie or by contacting us on [email protected] or 01-8749468 to order a campaign pack.

•Shari McDaid is the Director of Mental Health Reform.