Mental health services in Galway are ‘creaking’

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Galway’s mental health service is creaking – at least five specialist posts are vacant and waiting lists to see psychologists for diagnosis and therapeutic care are growing.

And as the head of mental health services in the West conceded that patients could wait a year for psychological assessments, one service user has described the service as ‘brutal’.

Charlie Meehan, Head of Mental Health in HSE Community Healthcare West, has also confirmed that five workers are on maternity leave in the local mental health services at present, and they cannot find replacement staff.

Sharon Nolan, who suffers mental health struggles including anxiety, depression and mood disorder, is one of the people impacted by the broken service.

Sharon, an outpatient, is availing of services in community mental health, but the nurse is on maternity. The service’s suicide prevention nurse, who would provide cover, is also on leave.

“My GP was like ‘I don’t know who else to call!’ We’re seeing on the telly and on Twitter and Facebook all our lovely politicians saying ‘just reach out, talk if you’re not feeling well’. But who are you supposed to talk to?” Sharon said.

A member of the Social Democrats who narrowly missed out on a Council seat in Galway City Central in the last local election, Sharon Nolan said the service provided even when the team is at full-strength, is not adequate.

“They’re quite limited in what they can offer because a lot of specific therapies or skills have such long waiting lists that they’re often referring you to the crisis charities and crisis hotlines – the Samaritans, Pieta House and 50808 Text About It. The HSE is so overwhelmed they will literally refer you to those charities now because they’re just not able to keep up with the demand. It’d make you sick,” Sharon said.

(Photo: Charlie Meehan, Head of Mental Health in HSE Community Healthcare West: difficulty recruiting staff.)
This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read more on Sharon’s story and  the HSE shortages, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.