Support for Mental Health Services

"Our society is defined by how we look after the most vulnerable. 1 in 7 adults in Ireland will have experienced a mental health difficulty in the last year" says Kiran Emrich,  People Before Profit Alliance (PBPA) local election candidate in Galway Central.
That is why  the PBPA campaign commits to the  actions on mental health  that the 4MentalHealth campaign has prescribed in conjunction with the Union of Students in Ireland.

Working to improve mental health and to ensure social inclusion of people with mental health difficulties is something that PBPA Galway have been participating in for a number of years. We have been involved with  Amnesty International and Jigsaw Mental Health campaigns, and also supporting The Galway East Mental Health Action Group, the campaign to retain the Addiction Clinic at Merlin Park Hospital, along with demonstrating against SNA cuts, and offering solidarity to the Psychiatric Nurses Association amongst others.
The key actions of the 4MentalHealth campaign are that
*We demand improved community-based mental health services locally for children & adults, and implementation of the current mental health policy 'A Vision for Change'.
* There must be commitments to funding for local community mental health groups that support recovery from mental health difficulties.
*In order to prevent homelessness we must ensure that there is effective communication between local authorities & community mental health teams.
If elected Kiran Emrich undertakes to  present a motion to Galway City Council stating that in its work, the Council will seek to promote mental health & well-being among the whole local population.

To elaborate further, PBPA National Health Policy calls for increased funding for Mental Health to at least 10% of the health budget.
We need improved access to social support, OT & psychotherapy as alternatives to medication and ECT. Vitally important is to improve access for children to prompt, good quality mental health & developmental assessments /therapies by staffing Child Mental Health and Early Intervention Teams to age 18. Liaison with & availability of school supports including small class sizes, Resource Teachers, SNAs & NEPS psychologists needs to be improved.

Adds Kiran Emrich, "There needs to be a resolution over the stop-start implementation of the 'Vision For Change' policy. We urgently need to emphasise preventive measures such as increased welfare spending on income support & jobs to reduce mental health problems and suicide. The economic crisis and the austerity policies of the current and previous government parties are taking a terrible toll on our society."