"Mental
health will be an issue on the doorsteps", says Mental Health Reform
Mental
Health Reform, the national coalition on mental health, has welcomed today’s
announcement (03/02/2016) by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny that the General Election
will be held on Friday 26th February. The coalition is asking voters to use the
next three weeks to remind all General Election candidates to make mental
health a priority.
Shari
McDaid, Director of Mental Health Reform, said: “We’ve seen general agreement
and some manifesto promises from political parties on mental health, but what
we really need now is effective action. Mental health difficulties touch people
of all ages and backgrounds, and Ireland’s rate of suicide is still worryingly
high. Candidates need to realise that mental health is an important issue for
hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland.”
“Although
there has been progress in recent years, people are still having long waits in
A&E, and many particularly vulnerable people such as those with an
addiction or disability are not getting the care they need. Services are
stretched and understaffed. It’s time to challenge candidates to say what they
will do to improve Ireland’s mental health”, Dr McDaid continued.
“Voters
need a clear signal from all political parties that they will make mental
health a priority, if elected. The #Ourstateofmind
campaign is asking all candidates and parties to commit to specific actions
that will make a real difference, including:
• a nationwide school programme to
build good mental health;
• access to 24/7 crisis supports;
• easy access to counselling;
• a right to advocacy support, to help
people with mental health difficulties access services;
• advance healthcare directives, to
give people the right to make choices about their own mental health
treatment.
If
the next Government doesn’t include these issues in their Programme for
Government, they’ll be missing a unique opportunity to develop a mental health
system that works to prevent mental health difficulties and support recovery”,
concluded Dr McDaid.
To
get involved and learn more about the Our state of mind campaign, see www.mentalhealthreform.ie, or
contact Mental Health Reform on info@mentalhealthreform.ie
or (01) 8749468.
Remind
every candidate to make mental health a priority in the next General Election.
Take action now: https://www.mentalhealthreform.ie/our-state-of-mind
#Ourstateofmind
Follow
us on Twitter: @MHReform
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mentalhealthreform/
