Action on suicide prevention and Mental health

[crosswind]

A question on the government policy and plan of action on the hugely emotive issue of suicide, particularly in young adult males was shrugged off with the usual statistics on funding amounts and the usual train of reports which have been written or are being created by the latest committees. There was no sense of urgency from the Taoiseach and no new commitment to doing anything extra at leaders questions today. It looks like decisions will be defered until the next report comes out next year on mental health policy. At that stage there'll probably be another report to wait for as has been the norm for mental health since the innovative 1984 report.

The former minister for Mental health Tim O'malley is now minister for disability and mental health and food safety according to the Irish Times today. It makes sense that mental health no longer warrants it's own junior ministry because of the bleeding of funding in relative terms in recent times. It was important to acknowledge disability and give it a more central role in government decision-making but it doesn't look hopefull when you consider what happened to mental health funding when it had a junior minister looking after it's interests.


There is still hope that attitudes will change; that the stigma surrounding mental health will evaporate and mean when it comes to funding it, there will be as strong a lobby as the other health sectors have. Time will tell if there is going to be action soon to really tackle the critical suicide and attempted suicide issues, the silent tragedy in irish life.

[crosswind]

Putting the promotion of mental health on a similar footing to the strong campaigns on things like anti-smoking, and other physical healthy living concerns was emphasised yesterday by Mental health ireland on world mental health day. It's reported in the irish examiner.

The stigma is still a big problem and something that will be very difficult to tackle by keeping things in mental health promotion low pofile. That's not to say there is nothing going on to combat the stigma by voluntary groups and the health boards but it still falls short of capturing the public imagination.

[stringjack]

Also, I think that Ireland should reinstate the office of High King.

[crosswind]

Also, I think that Ireland should reinstate the office of High King.

what has that got to do with it? Or is the point you are trying to make that there is as much chance of Mental health being given some degree of priority as there is of the reinstatement of the office of the high king?

[Lilac]

According to crosswind, there must be many suicides in Ireland.

[crosswind]

According to crosswind, there must be many suicides in Ireland.

444 people last year. It is particularly high among young men. Attempted suicides are particularly high among young women.

[Lilac]

Why that?
Isn´t there any psychological help offered to people in mental danger?
And what reasons for suicide are there?

In Japan, there are many suicides among children because schools put the children under a high preassure.
But why in Ireland?

[Zhukov]

A major problem with the health system in Ireland is that it lacks adequate psychological services. The less well off can have free GP care and free drugs for illness, but conditions best treated by counselling or cognitive behaviour therapy are left out of the service. One good way to combat depression would be to include some pscyhological services in the medical card scheme and extend this over time. That way those in need of help would have ready access to resources in the health service.

[Lilac]

Right!
Psychologists are too expensive!
When my boyfriend´s youngest sister (7) died, we wanted their mother to go to a psychologist, but they are simply too expensive!
60 Euro for only 1 meeting!
A scandal!

[Zhukov]

The government have got this one wrong. Proper treatment of those with mental health problems, including psychological treatment, would have a long-term curative effect and be cheaper and more effective in the long term. Unfortunately very little government thinking on health looks beyond the next election so I don't see any imminent change on the way.