Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2021
295. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to provide for the additional demand for mental health services at family resource centres; if he plans to provide supports to expand these services in line with demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27123/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of mental health services is a matter for the Minister for Health.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides funding to counselling services, through a network of community-based counselling service providers and Family Resource Centres that offer the following types of counselling/psychotherapy and support:
- Marriage and Relationship Counselling;
- Child Counselling;
- Rainbows peer support programme for children;
- Bereavement Counselling and support on the death of a family member.
Tusla funding to such counselling services in 2020 was some €6.7m. This funding is provided where there is a genuine need and demand for services and where they can be provided at low cost to adults, couples, children, young people and families.
Tusla, in partnership with the HSE Health and Wellbeing and Community Healthcare, also supports the Mental Health Promotion Project across 6 Health and Wellbeing Community Referral Sites in Cork and Kerry. The Tusla budget for this project in 2021, which supports FRCs in promoting best practice in relation to suicide prevention and the promotion of positive mental health, is €100,000.
Tusla acknowledges the importance of these services at this time, given the current pressure on families, the impact of bereavement and grieving; and the need to support access to services at reduced cost given the sudden financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I recently met with the Family Resource Centre National Forum (FRCNF) and they described first-hand the surge in demand that FRCs are managing due to an increase in mental health issues within their communities. I recognise the ease of accessibility of FRCs for families which can provide early intervention counselling within the community at a low cost.
While FRCs are continuing to provide counselling services they can also assist and direct families in accessing mental health supports from other agencies.
