Mental Health Services โStrained as Concerns โขRise Over โฃFinancial Distress & Suicideโ Risk
DUBLINโ – As Ireland navigates a period ofโฃ economic uncertainty despiteโ currently healthyโค publicโ finances, concerns โฃare mounting about the adequacy of mental โhealth support forโฃ individuals struggling with financial hardship. Recent commentary from โcommunity mental Health Awareness Training (CMAT) highlights a perceived link between economic downturns and increased suicide rates, a claim drawing attention to the need for bolstered support systems.
CMAT’s trainingโ manager, Fiona โCampbell, has voicedโค concerns โฃabout the limited financial support โservices available for referral, noting a “hugeโ fear aboutโข going โฃback to your bank – or talking to your bankโฃ manager โขabout โขsupport.” She advocates forโฃ expandedโ options beyondโค the existing Money Advice and Budgeting Service (Mabs) to provide โbroader โ”guidance” for those โขfacing financial difficulties.
Whileโข acknowledging the valuable work of Mabs, especially in areas hardest hit by โคrising living costs and foodโฃ price inflation, Campbellโ emphasizesโ theโข need for ongoingโ lobbying andโฃ research to justify increased service provision nationwide. “There is always the sense that more should be done,” โคshe stated.
The discussion comes as the โIrish governmentโฃ has recently enhanced jobseekers’ payments, offeringโ up to โโฌ450โฃ aโข week for the โfirst three months of unemployment (dependentโข on โฃprevious income and PRSI contributions), followed by โฌ375 for โthe next โthree months, and then โฌ300 for a further three months. Economists note these measures are currently โฃaffordable given the โstrong state of public finances, largely driven byโข theโ multinational sector.Though, โฃexperts caution that a notable economic shock -โฃ similar to โคthe one thatโ devastated the construction sector – coudl strain the State’s ability to โsustain these enhanced payments. The potential impact of such a scenarioโ on mental health remains โฃunclear.
The article โunderscores theโข importance of accessible mental health โคresources. Individuals affected byโข financial distress or experiencing suicidal thoughts are encouraged to contact Pieta 24/7 on โFreephone 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444.This โคrenewed focus โon the intersection of financial wellbeing and mentalโ health arrives as Ireland continues to monitor economic โindicators and assess the long-termโ sustainability of current support measures. โคThe conversationโ highlights a critical need for proactive investment in mental health โขservices to mitigate potential risks associatedโ with โfutureโ economicโค challenges.
