TD says crisis in Traveller mental health is being ignored

Green Party Spokesperson for Justice Patrick Costello has called for the Traveller National Health Action Plan to be published as a matter of urgency to tackle the stark rates of suicide in the Traveller community.

The Dublin South Central TD was speaking ahead of the five-year anniversary of the devastating Carrickmines fire, which claimed ten lives at a Dublin halting site on October 10 2015.

Speaking on the matter, he said:

“Last year alone, at least three times more travellers died by suicide than did in the Carrickmines fire,” he said.

“Discrimination and disproportionate levels of suicide and poor mental health in the Traveller community unfortunately continues to cast a dark shadow in this country.

“Suicide among Traveller men occurs at a rate seven times as high as among the general population, the rate among Traveller women is six times as high.

“The Irish Traveller Movement estimated 30 deaths by suicide to the end of August 2019.

“That estimate was not made lightly.”

“As a group, Travellers experience extreme disadvantage and clear inequalities in terms of employment, housing and health and they face exceptionally strong level of prejudice.

“The community have suffered long-standing racism, hate speech, prejudice and discrimination, all of which have culminated in rising cases of suicide and mental health difficulties.

“We are all aware that there has been a crisis in the mental health service generally for decades and unacceptable underfunding in many key areas.

“Traveller mental health was at crisis stage before COVID-19 and has been exacerbated by the pressures of this crisis.

“Access to appropriate services are needed now more than ever.”

Deputy Costello said now is the time for the Government to act.

“The National Traveller Health Action Plan has the potential to make a significant positive impact on Traveller health in Ireland, particularly mental health,” he said.

“Consultations for the plan initially took place in 2018 and it was expected to be finalised by the end of 2019 but there is still no sign of it.

“Traveller organisations alone cannot tackle the burden of addressing the disproportionate rates of suicide and mental health issues in the Traveller community and this is too serious a matter to let drag on any longer.

“They have already responded to the crisis to the best of their abilities by developing responses within existing budgets, but these budgets are under-resourced.

“We need to wake up and urgently address the major inequalities facing the Traveller community before more lives are lost.

“If we are serious about having better outcomes, we need a long-term plan that is focused, strategic and resourced.

“This Traveller National Health Action Plan needs to be published as a matter of urgency,” concluded Deputy Costello.