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To: Minister Mary Butler
Kelvins amendment
Dual diagnosis is not in our Mental Health act. Minister Mary Butler asked yesterday in the Seanad during the debate on the reform of the Mental Health Act “what is dual diagnosis “?. Dual diagnosis is “ In the DSM-5, " co-occurring disorders, meaning a person has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder (SUD) at the same time. There isn't one specific DSM-5 diagnosis for "dual diagnosis"; instead, it's a description of having any combination of a mental disorder from the DSM-5 and an SUD. Common co-occurring conditions include anxiety disorders, mood disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, and schizophrenia. As we know Ireland has changed, there are higher numbers presenting at a & e dept & cannot get treated for Dual Diagnosis due to it not being part of our legislation. People are dying. Families are suffering daily. Parents are burying their children due to the governments neglect.
WE WANT MINISTER MARY BUTLER FF to include Dual Diagnosis in the act. It’s not too late.
WE WANT MINISTER MARY BUTLER FF to include Dual Diagnosis in the act. It’s not too late.
Why is this important?
My son Kelvin was in services from the age of five, he was not diagnosed until he was 13 yrs when he advised me, his mother he was suicidal.. kelvin then got a diagnosis privately at the age of 13 of Asperger’s, generalised anxiety, sensory processing disorder and dyspraxia. CAMHS then only recognised his diagnosis and gave us a one line report. Because dual diagnosis is not recognised. Kelvin then spent the next 13 years trying to access services, every door was shut. In one year alone kelvin and myself presented at Naas A&E to try get treatment for Kelvin. We attended up there 60 times, only to be refused time and time again. On one occasion myself & Kelvin were asked to leave by security and escorted to the door. Security verbally abused us. Kelvin felt totally defeated again. This is harrowing for anybody experiencing mental health difficulties. Kelvin tried to end his life a number of times. Kelvin eventually ended his life to suicide in a hotel room alone in May 2025. I his mother, believes Kelvin ended his life to end his pain. Kelvin said to me numerous times. I cannot live with the daily symptoms of high anxiety, visual distortions and paranoia.
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