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Sinn F\u00e9in has laid out proposals to tackle issues surrounding access to mental health services.<\/p>\nSinn F\u00e9in has laid out proposals to tackle issues surrounding access to mental health services.<\/p>\n
Party president Mary Lou McDonald, along with Pat Buckley, General Election candidate for Cork East launched the proposals today, an issue which Mr Buckley, the party\u2019s former mental health spokesman, says is an issue \u201cclose to his heart\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMental health is everybody\u2019s business,\u201d Ms McDonald said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a time this topic was stigmatized, let\u2019s face it, and it\u2019s important we speak more openly and particularly so that young people feel liberated to come forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cMental health is one of the areas where there is cross party consensus for quite some time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen A Vision for Change (a strategy document which sets out the direction for Mental Health Services in Ireland) was published everybody agreed it was the right plan and people still agree but unfortunately it hasn\u2019t been resourced.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo at the core of these proposals is the absolute need to fund Vision For Change.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald said her party would mainly concentrate on three areas, which includes, 24 hour out-of-hours services for \u201cpeople who are unwell and particular people with suicidal ideation\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current position is that very often very sick people present at crowded accident and emergency departments.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no worse place for someone who is in distress, particularly suicidal, in a very crowded and stressed environment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have left accident and emergency and have come to harm afterwards, so it\u2019s very important when someone is in distress that they can have access to services.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another issue is that of dual diagnosis, which can see people with addiction issues turned away on the basis that they also have mental health issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cLife experience tells us that addiction and mental health issues go hand in hand,\u201d Ms McDonald added.<\/p>\n
“Our No Wrong Door policy means that you present as a human being and you\u2019re treated holistically, and you\u2019re not turned away from services because of either issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is understanding within the HSE that their protocols have to change and their way of working has to change, but we\u2019re not there yet by a long run,\u201d Ms McDonald said.<\/p>\n
The third issue concentrated on is that of education and awareness.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have full costing for all of the items, as well as an additional spend of \u20ac200m per annum over the lifetime of government,\u201d Ms McDonald said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s needed to make sure these plans are implemented.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertain legislative changes have to happen for the rights of person detained to have their rights upheld, and their right to advocacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a big issue for lots of people who have been unwell, many of whom have recovered and when you talk to them and they say there is a sense of powerlessness while within the system, and we should invest in independence advocacy for those who are suffering with mental illness.\u201d<\/p>\n