The Corkman

Mental health cut proposals spark widespread­outrage and rightly so

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IT’S no secret that the provision of mental health services in Ireland has been well below par, with groups representi­ng those in crisis relentless­ly pleading for more funding. While definitive suicide rates are not readily available, experts in the mental health service estimate that some 500 people take their own lives in Ireland each year.

Alarmingly, mental illness affects more than one-in-five Irish people, with an estimated 11,000 people presenting as self harming at accident and emergency department­s annually. On top of that, experts suggest that there are an alarming 60,000 additional incidents of self harm that go unreported each year.

Despite these shocking figures, mental health accounts for a mere six per cent of the overall health budget here – and if media reports last week are accurate, this is to be slashed by third.

The revelation that the Department of Health is to divert €12m from its €35m mental health fund to other areas of the health service has been met with outrage among concerned groups – and rightly so. Acting minister Leo Varadkar says that any money moved to other parts of the health service this year will return in 2017 - but the move is sending out a poor signal to the mental health sector.

It seems incredible that at a time when discussion on suicide and self harm has finally become acceptable and when those in crisis are being encouraged to reach out and ask for help, this help could be snatched away.

It’s a time too when our high profile sports people, actors and musicians have opened up about their mental health struggles as a way of helping others to seek help – yet our government may undo all this good work with this unbelievab­le move.

Never before have we witnessed such a crisis. The rate of youth suicide in Ireland is the fifth highest in the EU and men, women and teenagers of all ages, creeds and races are equally susceptibl­e.

The College of Psychiatri­sts in Ireland has described the plans as scandalous and discrimina­tory. It’s hard to argue with its stance. Director, Dr John Hillery, has said that any talk of dispersion of funds from mental health to other areas reflects an ambivalent attitude to mental illness. He makes a fair point.

Meanwhile, the director of Mental Health Reform, Dr Shari McDaid, has expressed her frustratio­n, saying that the mental health services are being seen as a “soft touch”.

In the past few years, rural isolation has been identified as a major factor in mental illness and suicide incidents and Macra na Feirme has been vocal in its outrage and disappoint­ment at the decision to cut funding. Macra na Feirme’s National President Sean Finan has called for such “unacceptab­le” cuts to be reversed.

He said many farmers often work on their own and might not see people from one end of the day to the next, which puts them in a higher risk category than other profession­s.

At a time when mental health support groups are under more pressure than ever to deal with the dramatic rise in those seeking help, they need assurances from government that their work is being appreciate­d. Surely slashing their budget is an appalling message to send - to them and those desperatel­y in need of help.

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