World Suicide Prevention Day: lack of 24/7 emergency services in most hospitals is failing those in mental health crisis

• Appalling lack of emergency psychiatric out of hours service across many hospitals is failing those in mental health crisis.
• Failure to deliver on promises made over many years on 24/7 crisis care pathways.

 

Marking World Suicide Prevention Day, Labour Party Spokesperson on Health Marie Sherlock TD has said that it is appalling that after many years of promises that many hospitals still do not have out-of-hours emergency mental health and CAMHS services.

Deputy Sherlock said:

“Today, I think of the countless people and families across our communities who lives have been touched by suicide. It is crucial that as a society we start to open honest conversations about suicide, break the stigma of speaking about suicide, and ensure that the supports are available. It is so important that those who are struggling with their mental health feel supported to seek help and to get the right, immediate help wherever they are and whenever they need it.

“Ensuring that we have 24/7 emergency mental heath crisis support in every mid sized and big hospital is a critical part of the response.”

“We know that international best practise is that medical and mental health professionals in emergency departments should work together in a timely way but as the head of Mental Health Commission highlighted in April of this year, this parallel assessment is not available in most emergency departments in Ireland. This is a failure to properly recognise and resource mental health crisis situations presenting to our Emergency departments.

“The Mental Health Commission report on mental health care through hospital emergency departments paints a stark picture. We understand that  routinely, those in mental health crisis who attend out of hours are “cleared” for medical issues first before psychiatric assessment commences. This is having devastating consequences for individuals and their families in terms of enduring extremely long waits in ED before the person is assessed. The wait often has the effect of exacerbating the mental health crisis.

“Furthermore, children in mental health crisis are being grossly failed in many parts of the country. Government policy is to have a 24/7 referral pathway to an out-of-hours CAMHS service in each of the mid-sized and large hospitals in our State. We know from talking to families and from the Mental Health Commission report that this simply does not exist in many  hospitals. I am aware of situation in the Mater hospital where teenagers have had to spend many days waiting before an appropriate bed becomes available. This is a gross failure of the state to protect children at such a critical and vulnerable time.

“We know from the Health Research Board that an estimated 500 die by suicide each year in Ireland with thousands who have attempted suicide, experience suicidal ideations, or who self-harm. While this is an issue for both teenagers and adults, the figures tell us that the rate is hugely driven by male deaths. For every 100 girls and women taking their lives, there are 400 boys and men. This points to clear need for targeted suicide prevention programmes and support.”