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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Youth mental health in Cavan-Monaghan

Summary

Deputy Smyth called for stronger youth mental health supports and prevention work, especially given suicide concerns in Cavan-Monaghan. The Minister praised local advocacy, noted SCAN nurses and Jigsaw’s work, and said youth mental health was a key priority.

I will direct my question to the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people. As she knows, I have for a long time implored the Government to deliver on more services for young people around mental health issues. The reason I say that is I am very sadly confident that Cavan-Monaghan is a black spot when it comes to suicide among our very young population. I really want us to look at prevention, ways of reaching out to young people, and ways of allowing them the space and time to relieve themselves of the mental health issues they have. I am a firm believer in such services. We just have to look around the country to see what the likes of Jigsaw have achieved.

While there are services, and I acknowledge the Minister of State has put a huge amount of work and resources into our suicide crisis assessment nurse, SCAN, services and all those types of services within the HSE, Jigsaw is a recognisable entity. I again implore her to please deliver that for Cavan-Monaghan.

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I thank the Deputy for her constant advocacy for enhanced mental health services in Cavan-Monaghan. She is quite right; two SCAN nurses have gone into that area and are making a significant difference. I also want to change the narrative in really pushing youth mental health. It is a key priority of mine. I met with the new HSE CEO recently. Some 2% of the 1 million children in Ireland may need the support of child and adolescent mental health services but the remaining 98% also need supports. Jigsaw does an invaluable job. I met with Dr. Joseph Duffy and his team only two weeks ago to discuss future plans. I pointed out three specific areas where we do not have Jigsaw coverage: Cavan-Monaghan, Kildare and community healthcare organisation 5, which is the area where I live. Jigsaw has 67% physical coverage throughout the country but over the past few years, due to Covid, many of its supports moved online. I will work with Jigsaw and do my best to fund it. I will ask all the various Deputies to work with local authorities in their areas to see whether we can identify premises. We will move to providing more Jigsaw services in specific areas.

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