Madam, - Minister of State Tim O'Malley's comments on mental health as published in the Irish Medical News (Nov 6th) and referred to in The Irish Times (Breda O'Brien) last Saturday are largely in conflict with the findings and recommendations in the report of his own expert group, published in A Vision for Change and which is now Government policy.
It is a cause of concern that these views as expressed by the Minister are in conflict with his own Government policy.
I wish to remind people that he himself launched this policy document.
It is imperative that the Minister clarify his position regarding his commitment to Government policy on mental health. - Yours, etc,
Dr KATE GANTER, Chairman, Irish College of Psychiatrists, St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.
Madam, - Tim O'Malley, our Health Minister of State, must have been born rattlin' (a Donegalism for bonkers). To publicly state that he isn't sure if mental conditions are medical illnesses, to question the efficacy of ongoing medication and hospital treatment of sufferers of same, is not only irresponsible but downright ignorant.
As a victim of bipolar disorder, I know what it's like to suffer the delusions of going off the "aul medication", to have been in an emergency locked ward where I lived with harrowing scenes of true mania; to be grateful for medication to control my own demons, and to suffer the stigma of being mentally ill in modern Ireland.
Mr O'Malley, or any member of his family, has obviously not been there.
He can come and talk to me any time if he's not too busy flying around in his motor car and I'll tell him what it's like. - Yours, etc,
EILEEN LAWLOR, Ellesmere Court, Bundoran, Co Donegal.