Sir, – Ursula von der Leyen delivered her third State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week. The energy crisis and the war in Ukraine were among the important topics that the president of the European Commission addressed in her speech. Ms von der Leyen also announced a new initiative on mental health in Europe.
Mental Health Reform is heartened to hear the recognition of mental health as a priority concern at European level. We are compelled, however, to note that mental health is conspicuously absent from political discourse in Ireland as we approach Budget 2023. As we subsist on a steady diet of dire forecasts and news reports on the rising cost of living, energy shortages and increasing inflation, we cannot ignore the human cost of economic adversity and the mental health impact of this cost of living crisis.
Rates of mental health difficulties in Ireland are already high. A recent study shows that over 40 per cent of the population experience mental health difficulties and one in 10 people report a history of attempted suicide. There is a grave risk that the cost of living crisis will plunge many more people into a state of hopelessness and psychological distress.
Behind each of these percentages is a person. If we do not act now to ensure mental health is on the agenda for Budget 2023, we fear we may be writing to this publication with ever increasing statistics each year.
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We are fast approaching a national mental health emergency. The Government must resource mental health services to meet current and emerging need.
The people of Ireland deserve it. – Yours, etc,
RÓISÍN CLARKE,
Interim CEO,
Mental Health Reform,
Dublin 7.