#WorldMentalHealthDay - Fix the broken system!
Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay, RISE member Kay Keane writes below on the mental health crisis across Ireland, and the failure of the government and health service to provide adequate supports:
A number of recent articles have pointed to the growing crisis within mental health services. A recent article on the Journal.ie points to the recruitment freeze as having a major impact on the number of full time positions. There were 9,997 staff posts on the 31st of August 2019, just 68 higher than July 2009. With the increase in demand for services and assistance - an already stretched service is now at crisis point.
A Damning Indictment
Figures up to August this year show there has been 80 recorded suicides, among these numbers were two children. How a society treats its most vulnerable is usually indicative as to the value placed on them.
It is a damning indictment of the role played by the HSE, the Government and Minister.
The service has been run down, it is no longer fit for purpose. The model of privatisation that is pushed constantly by the capitalist class as the way forward has failed. What should be a public service available to all is now pared back to the bare bones.
It is an indictment of a system that benefits those who have the means to pay for treatment above those who don't.
Housing crisis, young people and mental health
Childcare agencies are now pointing to the long term impact homelessness will have on the young.The psychological impact it will have on them is as yet unknown. But early studies have shown that homelessness has serious impacts on the mental health of children.
The effects of the housing crisis is already being seen as waiting lists to see a child psychologist is currently 18 months and rising. When they do seek emergency services, or are able to access services vulnerable children and adolescents, some suicidal, are often placed in adult facilities. Usually the reason for this is because of a lack of staff or no beds.
Workers within the mental health service work under extreme pressure, often frustrated and demoralised. Pay and conditions are regularly raised by staff as being poor.
A&E departments are often the only place a vulnerable person experiencing a mental health emergency can access assistance. This is because many aspects of the mental health service do not address is that a mental health crisis does not just happen ‘on the clock’. You cannot decide to programme your health around the 9-5, 5-day week that is available now.
Mental Health services as part of a National Health Service
Successive right wing governments, either on their own or in coalition with those who claim to be on the left (Labour & the Greens ), have failed to address the real needs of those with mental health issues. A 24/7 service is vital to address a growing need to treat our most vulnerable. Alongside this is a fully funded public community based after-care service is essential.
Ireland is a wealthy country yet the division of that wealth is unequal. The investment by neo-liberal governments into public services has always been minimal. This has resulted in the decimation of the health service, alongside bad management by government appointees, and extortionate medicine prices.
We need an Irish National Health Service which is fully publicly funded, and free at the point of access for all.