Speaking yesterday evening in the Dáil Denise Mitchell, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Bay North, said mental health services were overwhelmed, and that changes were required as a matter of urgency.

Teachta Mitchell said;

“The last few months have taken their toll on everyone, particularly those suffering with mental health. It has been an intense period and has put a strain on many of us with the stress and anxiety that coronavirus has caused.

Before the pandemic and lockdown mental health services right across the state were breaking at the seams and hadn’t got the capacity to deal with the number of people who were presenting to their services.

People presenting to mental health services are extremely vulnerable, and it is simply not good enough that they are having the door closed in their face in this time of need.

This is no fault of the staff who do great work, but is a sign that the whole system is completely overwhelmed.

In my own constituency of Dublin Bay North there are 152 children waiting over 3 months to even just be allocated an appointment. That’s not good enough.

We need a publicly funded mental health service that is accessible to all who need it, and we needed it yesterday.

Consultations and reports are fine, but unfortunately they do not improve one persons situation. We need action, and we need proper services.”