Improve facilities & increase funding in the mental health sector in Ireland

I’ve found myself asking the question was this the right time to create this petition with all of the others issues going on in the country and in the world right now. But the thing is when is the right time for change? There’s always going to be other problems unfolding around us but that doesn’t mean this issue is any less relevant or important.

I have experienced first hand having been in a variety of mental health services from private and public general and psychiatric hospitals, community facilities and various counselling services that the system and resources available in the country of Ireland to people who are struggling are limited and over-capacitated, unable to deal with the large volumes of people who are seeking out support. How unfair is it that incredible non-profit charities like Pieta House or Jigsaw or Spunout are being overwhelmed in the community by the countless people who do not have the access or money to go to the mental health services that they desperately require. Or hearing about another individual taking their own life who was on a 3 month or 6 month long waiting list to be seen by a counsellor or start a therapy programme. It’s time we start seeing more money being put into the mental health sector to create crisis centres as a safe place for those to go to if they’re feeling suicidal and to see an increased number of facilities, counsellors and resources in the community. Excuses and explanations aside, it’s fundamental that we all get the help and resources for our mental health that we need and that we deserve because the way things are now is just not good enough!

If you want please sign the petition if you feel strongly about this issue too. Let’s use our voices to propel the change that we want to see in this country, not in 5 or 10 years but now. I don’t want to see those suffering with their mental state to be turned away by a private hospital because they aren’t covered or don’t have insurance, or a long term patient being repeatedly over-medicated because there’s no other help available to them, or to see a young person arriving to the emergency department feeling suicidal and then walking away feeling as though they weren’t listened to or didn’t get the help that they desperately needed. We have the ability to save lives if we start making this change right now. Let’s prioritise our mental health and encourage the government to do the same with the services that are in place!