Mental health specialist central to Covid Advisory Group

Deputy Michael Lowry and members of the Regional Group of TDs have highlighted the omission of mental health, clinical nurse and paediatric specialists from the new Covid-19 Advisory Group.

“Perhaps the stigma associated with mental health is not confined to society in general, but also extends to the very practice of medicine itself. How else can we explain the absence of a psychiatrist in this group?” says Deputy Lowry.

“Furthermore, not a single clinical nurse specialist is a member. For all our talk about the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to Public Health, this is yet further evidence, if any more were needed, of the poor esteem in which we continue to hold our nursing profession’

“Excluding mental health, nursing and midwifery from an advisory panel that advises Government shows a distant and detached approach to this Pandemic and likely future Pandemics. These exclusions ignore the reality of the situation in the physical and mental health services’ reads a joint statement from the members of the Regional Group.

"The pandemic had a profound impact on people - increasing social isolation, loneliness, anxiety, depression and undermining the social and cultural supports that we all rely on. Referrals for Mental Health Services significantly increased during the Pandemic. The Mental Health system was not prepared to cope with the significant increase in demand experienced over the last few years.

“We still do not know the full effects of Covid-19, but we know that Covid-19, long Covid and future pandemics will no doubt continue to impact the mental health of our population regardless of age.

“Regional Group members, as far back as December 2020, raised these issues during their Mental Health Private Members’ Motion. But promises made to include the necessary experts from multiple disciplines are continuing to be ignored.”