Sir, – Prof Brendan Kelly (December 30th) outlines some important suggestions for voters who wish to improve services for those with mental illness.
As a mental health worker for over 20 years, I believe that there is a need for legislators to take an overview of how we manage mental health services in Ireland, compared to other countries.
The reality is that governance remains problematic in many parts of our health system, and it is a fact that no specialist community mental health team in the country actually has a team manager, responsible for the actions of all the different professionals within that team.
Many vulnerable patients with both mental illness and addictions who fail to attend appointments are often discharged to woefully disjointed community and voluntary services, and they can end up homeless.
Despite stated policy, there remains an absence of primary care teams that are responsible for supporting all those who fall through the net to access the care they need.
Surely this needs to be a priority for all of us who want a comprehensive mental health service for all those who have different mental health needs, and which could integrate with more specialist mental health services as required. – Yours, etc,
FRANK BROWNE,
Templeogue,
Dublin 16.