In my experience canvassing here in Kilkenny over recent months, I am inspired by the fortitude of so many family members in coping with the effects of mental ill-health. At the same time, I am saddened that so many parents and guardians have to deal with this problem with very limited support and back up from state agencies.
For sure, voluntary organisations (GROW, Teac Tom and among others) continue to provide a wonderful service by way of counselling, information, friendship and practical assistance. Yet, mental health remains as the Cinderella of the public health service – underfunded, understaffed and undervalued. Again and again, children under the age of 18 join the ranks of already overcrowded emergency departments in acute public hospitals due the lack of a timely and 24/7 wrap-around service for children and families in crisis.
Children, women and men can be impacted by mental ill-health at any stage in life. Thankfully, people are more willing to speak and openly share about this matter even though it is still too often a taboo. Today, we have a better understanding of the complex nature of mental health, especially when It goes wrong in cases of depression, self-harm, addiction or the rising prevalence of eating disorders in young adults.
I am painfully aware that the local Government in Ireland does not have the resources or powers to make a huge change in this area, which remains the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE). Yet, there are steps we can take and I will be full square behind these:
- Highlighting the issue of mental issues in community planning at local level.
- Financial and practical support for more spaces where young people can meet and enjoy themselves in positive ways.
- Liaise with An Garda Síochána in reaching out to local communities to inform, connect and build trust in areas where addiction has emerged as a key challenge.
- Encourage and support persons with mental health to register and vote as they are now able to do so.
- During the pandemic there was a Kilkenny COVID19 Community Response Forum hotline pointing people to local services. This should be reinstituted.
- Campaign with other elected representatives to improve diagnostic, emergency and follow-up treatment in County Kilkenny as well as early access and diagnosis before a crisis overwhelms
We need to move away from a default pathway of accessing mental health care through emergency hospital departments where there is no acute medical need
To sum up, we need a comprehensive service that provides the people of Kilkenny with the right assessment and care in a timely fashion in the right place with the right professionals.
#Vote4MentalHealth #AKilkennyWorthWorkingFor
