TWO CONSTITUENTS of Cork TD Kathleen Lynch, with mental health problems, who had presented for treatment at their local AE, were sent home and later took their own lives.
The Labour TD told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children yesterday that they were sent home "because there were no beds". "We've just come out of the boom and we still can't take people in who are in need of help."
The committee was hearing yesterday from the Irish Association of Psychologists in Mental Health, who said there was a need for a "bare minimum" of 156 clinical psychologists for adults in the State and there were just 80.
"In child mental health services, there is a need for 156 and there are just 50," said Dr Eoin Galavan. "The vast majority of people with a mental health problem never get to see a clinical psychologist."
Dr Adam Meiselman said the dearth of psychological services meant the root causes of people's mental health issues were often not treated adequately. "Medication is a palliative treatment in mental health, it is not curative . . . Psychological interventions are time-limited and highly effective in many disorders."
