Madam, - Minister Tim O'Malley continues to astound me. First he expresses doubts about the validity of mental illness and psychiatry as a legitimate branch of medicine. Then he alleges that power-crazed child psychiatrists are artificially inflating their waiting lists just for kicks. I have to pinch myself to make sure that this is the same Tim O'Malley who is Minister of State with responsibility for mental health. The same Tim O'Malley who is overseeing the implementation of the Vision for Change, the policy blueprint for the development of mental health services in Ireland. In this minister's hands the "vision" is rapidly becoming a hallucination. - Yours, etc,
DR AISLING DENIHAN, Consultant psychiatrist, Navan, Co Meath.
Madam, - I would first like to acknowledge the bravery of the individuals who told their story in such a dignified manner into what life is like living with mental health problems on last Monday's Prime Time programme into mental health services in Ireland.
However, I heard with great dismay Tim O'Malley's comments on the reasons for long waiting lists. With respect to Mr O'Malley, it is extremely worrying to attribute blame for long waiting lists on a mere fabrication made up by professionals working in the area, when some children are waiting for over four years for an assessment. Is it not continued neglect by successive governments in halving the funding to mental health services since the 1980s? The Junior Minister should be acting as an advocate for some of the most vulnerable people in our society to ensure that they have an appropriate service to meet their needs. With an advocate such as Mr O'Malley, mental health services will continue to be under-funded and under-resourced. - Yours, etc,
ANDREA BARKER, Occupational therapist, Glasnevin, Dublin 11.