I commend Sinn Féin on tabling this motion on the need for emergency mental health services and stating they should be 24-7 and involve dedicated mental health emergency rooms in level 3 and 4 hospitals, investment in model 2 hospitals and proper staffing for mental health services. The second last point is particularly important, from my experience. It refers to "mental health crisis assessment and intervention services [and] community-based alternatives... late-night outreach spaces, crisis resolution teams, and community-based assessment, support, and treatment teams". I say that because on a number of occasions in my clinic, either I or my staff have faced terrifying situations where people have called us or come into us and said they are feeling suicidal. We have no idea what to do. If I could ask the Minister one thing, it would be to put together guidance for public representatives faced with these situations. Our staff are traumatised. We are dealing with traumatised people and we do not know what advice to give them as to where to go. Usually, we end up being told to call the police. That is literally all that is available - call the police if somebody is threatening suicide. Two of our emergency departments, in St. Michael's Hospital and Loughlinstown hospital, had their opening hours reduced to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. a number of years ago, which we campaigned strongly against. The only emergency department available out of hours is in St. Vincent's Hospital, which is overrun and chaotic. I do not know if it is mentioned in the motion but we often get reports of dual diagnosis. People are turned away from emergency departments because they also have problems with abuse of drugs or alcohol. There is often unwillingness to treat people in that situation. I do not blame the staff for that. I blame the lack of specialised dual-diagnosis mental health services, as well as services in the community. Before people end up in an emergency department, there should be community-based alternatives, as the motion states, and crisis intervention teams, so there are other supports available for people in these situations. It is good the Government is not opposing the motion but we need to see the resources in place. We also need to think beyond this motion. Many of the mental health crises in this country involve our young people. I strongly believe, and have said it a number of times in here, that we should have a psychology department in every school. This is the case in many countries, where schools not only have individuals but also have actual psychology departments. We should have the same so there are places to go in schools for young people facing mental health crises. The Government should not be trying to deal with the consequences of such crises on one the hand, while, on the other, failing to act against some of the forces in the world fomenting such crises and leading young people to feel suicidal. I am referring to some social media companies and their reckless, irresponsible behaviour in having recommender algorithms which push stuff at young people that foments much of the mental health crises they are experiencing, including suicidal ideation, body image issues and so on, which can have a big impact on young people and can lead them to mental health crisis or even suicide. Algorithms pushing stuff about suicidal ideation at young people is absolutely shocking. There is profiteering from it, as was highlighted by Deputy Paul Murphy in the Bill we tabled to do away with these algorithms that are pushing dangerous stuff at young people. There are many aspects to the mental health crisis that faces many in our society. It will affect many people at some point in their lives. What is put forward in the motion is an important part of the response. I hope the Government will act on it and provide the staffing and resources to make it happen. There are also things beyond this which the Government needs to consider.

Sentiment score: -0.23