A chara, – I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments of my esteemed colleagues (Letters, February 13th).
The liberal use of the term “mental health” by the Government, and various other parties, serves their interests and not those who are diagnosed with severe and enduring illnesses (like schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder).
The limited availability of the Covid vaccine for psychiatric staff, never mind the vulnerable patient population, further highlights the chatter of “minding your mental health” is merely that, chatter! Meanwhile the most vulnerable continue to be excluded, including staff and residents in the intellectual disability services. – Is mise,
Dr MARY SCRIVEN,
Glasson,
Co Westmeath.
Sir, – Prof Harry Kennedy and his forensic psychiatry colleagues note that we have learned valuable lessons as a nation from previous inquiries about hiding younger, poorer people away when they are most vulnerable.
As a former commissioner on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, I fear lessons have not been learned in their entirety.
Young prisoners, men and women, with a serious mental illness requiring specialised treatment in a forensic mental health setting remain on waiting lists in Irish prisons without the clinical health care to which they have a statutory entitlement and a right under international convention.
The Department of Justice and the Department of Health need urgently to jointly address, plan and implement a fully resourced and adequate number of beds for prisoners who are acutely ill and need treatment and psychological interventions in a specialised hospital setting. – Yours, etc,
MARY
FENNESSY,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.