Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 March 2018
217. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the actions taken to date to implement the recommendations of the national task force on youth mental health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13467/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Youth Mental Health Task Force was established in response to an undertaking in the Programme for Partnership Government. It was asked to produce a series of action-focused recommendations. The Taskforce report was published in December. The report made a number of recommendations in different themed areas. It also identified lead agencies associated with each recommendation that would be tasked with developing and/or implementing these as appropriate.
A number of recommendations have been incorporated into the service plans of lead agencies for 2018. These are:
1. To establish a National Lead for Youth Mental Health and a Youth Mental Health lead in each Community Health Organisation areas;
2. To examine various evidence based training options for improving mental health nationally;
3. To develop perinatal information and support tools;
4. To develop online digital support tools and signposting tools; and
5. To support the establishment of a new interdepartmental team called Pathfinder to oversee youth mental health policy and prioritise youth mental health initiatives nationally
I have set as a priority the development of a mental health telephone line, signposting tool and digital on-line supports for those accessing information about mental health. Currently, Mental Health Services, within the HSE, have established a working group to progress this service, with the focus being on preventing mental health problems from developing and escalating. The online supports produced will promote good mental health through empowering people to self-manage their mental wellbeing. A significant challenge in respect of helpline services will be to integrate the existing specialist helplines into a single helpline number. The Project Lead for the telephony strand of the project is also responsible for the HSE Live service and a consultation process is in place to seek the views of existing providers on how they could be integrated into a single helpline number. A final date for roll-out of this service is yet to be determined, but significant work is ongoing.
