Mental Health.An election issue?

national | politics / elections | opinion/analysis Monday February 26, 2007 15:58 by Dr Nick

Deppression and suicide is crippling our nations society so why does mental health not win votes?

At the last Irish psychiatrists meeting Senator Dr Mary Henry lamented the goverments lack of advances in mental health saying 'There are no votes in mental health. There are no votes in it'.
Only two members of the oireachtas attended this very important meeting,Senator Mary Henry and Fine gael TD for west Limerick,Dan Neville.

With mental health affecting at least 10% of the population and death from suicide one of the largest causes of death in Irish young people surely this should be a critical election issue?
However,as Senator Henry said mental health does not win votes. If so,Why not in this age when action and funding for mental health is so paramount for the growth of Irish society?

Former president of the United states,John F kennedy made mental health change one of the four major planks of his election manifesto. Dr Justin Brophy,a consultant psychiatrist in Newcastle Hospital Wicklow says, 'Thats the kind of leadership we are looking for. If we dont find it in goverment,it may have to come from the opposition'.
Can the opposition be trusted to pay little more then lip service to mental health which,with the exception of Dan Neville, all they have done so far?Will Labour,fine gael,sinn fein and the greens ignore this important issue which doesnt win votes and just focus on those that will?