‘Teach mental health at primary level’ – mother of tragic Milly
THE mother of an 11-year-old schoolgirl who took her own life has said mental health and dangers of social media issues should be taught to children in primary schools.
Milly Tuomey was a sixth class pupil when she made a lethal attempt at self-harm on New Year’s Day, 2016. She died four days later at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.
The schoolgirl had been suffering body and appearance issues, and in November 2015 had expressed a wish to die. Her GP sent an urgent referral letter to the HSE’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), but Milly took her life before her appointment.
Her parents Fiona and Tim Tuomey have been critical of mental health services in Ireland and are now campaigning for change. There are 69 CAMHS centres in Ireland, but the HSE aims to increase that figure to 99.
Speaking at the launch of a Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit, Ms Tuomey said education was an important aspect of tackling mental health issues.
“There is room for more mental health education in school,” she said,
“There is some in the junior cert cycle, and I know that there is talk about increasing that, but it’s a little piecemeal.
“I think that if children’s safety is paramount, their mental health is as important as their physical health. “So instead of it being reactionary, it should be part of something that is part of training and the curriculum.
“It needs to be taught at primary school level, without a shadow of a doubt.
“Milly was in sixth class when she died. At present everything is opt-in. A lot of the schools will do it on a voluntary basis.
“We are living in a digital age and that is a huge learning curve.”
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit will take place on October 11 at the Aviva Stadium.