People in crisis deserve appropriate mental health care says Ward

Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward has called for better services for people experiencing crisis mental health difficulties.

Ward, who recently launched the party’s plan to fix Ireland’s mental health services should they get into government, said “mental health difficulties do not just occur between the hours of 9-5, Monday to Friday.”

“People in crisis often turn to A&E for help, but this is not always the most appropriate place for someone in crisis,” he said.

“What we need is 24/7 care. This can consist of community-based multidisciplinary services to provide rapid assessment and varying degrees of support to people who are in a mental health crisis.”

“Our cities need to be resourced with Crisis Cafés, places where medical professionals are based within the community.”

He said that Ireland needs services for when a person is a danger to themselves or others.

“I have highlighted the positive impacts that a pilot programme for a crisis de-escalation team was in Belfast several  years ago and have called for similar teams to be available across the state.”

“The teams can be deployed to assist the Gardaí where necessary and appropriate. These teams would comprise of mental health professionals and a paramedic. These professionals can make the most appropriate interventions and referrals where necessary.”

A similar scheme was proposed for Limerick but has failed to materialise.

“If a person does need to access the emergency department in mental health crisis, then Sinn Féin would fund liaison psychiatrists in each ED around the state; a priority of ours is to fund the National Clinical Programme for Suicide Intervention, which has not received new funding for several  years.”

“Sinn Féin have a vision and plan for delivering crisis intervention, and we will deliver this if in Government,” he said.