Mental health services and helpline
Deputy Eugene Murphy criticised the state of mental health services and asked when the crisis would be taken seriously. Minister of State Daly announced a new mental health helpline, cited existing services nationwide, and said the system was being expanded.
I return to the issue of mental health services. The Inspector of Mental Health Services has made a damning comment on where we are with the services. There has been little or no improvement in the past ten years. The special inquiry in Roscommon made 27 recommendations. My information is that, to date, very few of the recommendations have been put in place. It is also the case that 10,000 people self-harmed last year. The figure includes only those who turned up at hospitals; others do not turn up. When will we take mental health services seriously and deal with the crisis on our doorstep? The improvement is minimal. We need to take this matter very seriously.
Comment on this
I can assure the Deputy that we are taking it very seriously. This is World Mental Health Day and I am delighted to announce that the mental health telephone line about which I have talked since I became a Minister of State has gone live today. The number is 1800 742 444 which I hope people will promote and put on their phones. It is a service which will direct callers to the most appropriate service. There are 1,027 services the length and breadth of the country funded by the HSE. I am not sure whether people know where they should go in a time of need. The Deputy will be interested in knowing that I have pledged in the budget allocation for next year to make the Rosalie unit a hub in the development of telehealth. As the House knows, there are many other initiatives, to which the Tánaiste made reference, including the initiative aimed at decreasing waiting lists.