Mental health continues to stir emotions
COUNCILLORS reacted with disgust to the nonchalant attitude of the Government to mental health services in County Wexford, following a meeting with Junior mental health Minister Helen McEntee and HSE officials.
The meeting was attended recently by three councillors and TDs Paul Kehoe, James Browne and Michael D’Arcy Jnr.
At last week’s Wexford County Council meeting, Cllr Willie Fitzharris said: ‘We got a very good hearing. We sent a single message from the three councillors who voiced our opinion strongly about the need for 24-hour service to be located in Wexford.’
The councillors outlined how people in the county suffering from mental health problems and their families have to travel to the Department of Psychiatry in University Hospital Waterford and the resulting lack of support for patients by not having family members within close proximity.
‘Not showing up is another danger. The statistics are frightening in Wexford. The health officials we spoke to were a bit disappointing. There message was that more or less everything was OK. We told them that we don’t accept that official line.’
HSE officials said increased mental health awareness programmes will be rolled out to teenagers.
‘We got a very sincere hearing and the message did sink in but we are very disappointed. You would worry when these are the people who are dictating the treatment of people with mental health.’
Cllr Davy Hynes said he was very disappointed that he was invited to meet with the minister.
‘I’m hearing about this after the event. People are taking this on as it is more politically advantageous now.’
Cllr Hynes said: ‘We absolutely need a 24/7 unit in County Wexford and we need a whole system. People are being turned away from Waterford.’
Cllr Willie Kavanagh said members of all parties were invited to the delegation.
Cllr Fitzharris rejected Cllr Hynes’s claim, adding that he is personally aware of the trauma suicide can have no families. Following this Cllr Hynes withdrew his comment. Cllr Anthony Kelly proposed a follow up meeting with Minister McEntee, while Cllr George Lawlor suggested that Health Minister Simon Harris should be included in the invitation.
Cllr Tony Dempsey said: ‘It’s good that there was a meeting with Minister Helen McEntee who lost her Dad to suicide and is very familiar with this issue.’