Sorca Clarke
Ceist:
642. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda interventions involving persons with self-harm or harming others due to mental health issues; and the resources that have been made available to ensure that An Garda Síochána is adequately trained to deal with these complex situations and that they have access on 24/7 supports of appropriate specialist services when required. [23113/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities but the information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 642 of 10 May 2022 where you sought: “..the number of Garda interventions involving persons with self-harm or harming others due to mental health issues; and the resources that have been made available to ensure that An Garda Síochána is adequately trained to deal with these complex situations and that they have access on 24/7 supports of appropriate specialist services when required”.
As you will recall, I had sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand. The below table shows the number of Mental Health incidents recorded on PULSE from 1 January 2020 up to 5 May 2022.
The figures provided from PULSE are operational and liable to change.
|
Incident Type
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
|
Mental Health Act (detained under)
|
5754
|
6312
|
2431
|
I am informed that An Garda Síochána operates within the framework provided for by the Mental Health Act 2001. A Memorandum of Understanding has been established between An Garda Síochána and the HSE on Removal to or Return of a person to an Approved Centre in accordance with Section 13 & Section 27, and the Removal of a person to an Approved Centre in accordance with Section 12, of the Mental Health Act 2001. The Memorandum of Understanding is a joint initiative by An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive to maximise interagency co-operation and to promote the welfare and safety of persons with mental health issues.
The Deputy will be interested to know that since 2014 the HSE (National Office for Suicide Prevention) has been a stakeholder in providing training to trainee Gardaí. The training, delivered over two days, is an internationally recognised ASIST workshop (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) which is co-delivered with the HSE. The ASIST workshop is a suicide first aid programme which equips trainees with the skills required to discuss suicide with a person at risk and to make an intervention to reduce the immediate risk of suicide.
I am advised that An Garda Síochána has committed to developing its service to ensure a human rights based approach to policing. In this regard, in conjunction with the University of Limerick, a twelve week course was developed which results in the participant achieving a level 8 certificate in Policing and Human Rights Law in Ireland.
Furthermore, An Garda Síochána have forged relationships with a number of external groups who can add value and contribute to their collective understanding of what a human rights based approach to policing looks like, in a practical setting. A number of these contributions are from experts in the area of mental health and neurodiversity, for example:
- Mental Health Ireland produced a bespoke two hour learning session where Garda Personnel can develop their understanding on mental health, mental distress and the role that staff in An Garda Síochána can have.
- AslAm have provided An Garda Síochána with a learning tool to enable staff to understand Autism. This is delivered online in two 1.5 hour sessions.
- The National Office for Suicide Prevention has provided the opportunity for Garda Personnel to partake in a 1.5 hour course on how to talk about suicide.
- Bespoke training sessions that will be delivered online on the topic of Neurodiversity.
- ADHD Ireland has provided a training session that is delivered online on the topic of ADHD.
I hope this information is of assistance.
