Cllr wants Jigsaw extended to Cavan
He praised services already in existence but said that, due to delays, young people are falling through the cracks and are simply being “forgotten”.
A local councillor is calling on the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to provide enhanced mental health services to young people living in Cavan through an extension of the Jigsaw initiative.
Independent Brendan Fay said there is a “crisis in the county” with regards to accessing mental health supports for children and young adults, aged 12-25 years.
He praised services already in existence but said that, due to delays, young people are falling through the cracks and are simply being “forgotten”.
Cllr Fay proposed that the council write to the Minister for Health to ask “why we have no services either at community level or national level to deal with mental health issues, anxiety, depression or suicide for vulnerable children or teenagers”.
He revealed that private counselling costs €400 for six sessions and €70 thereafter.
“There needs to be a more holistic approach to dealing with these issues,” he told the November monthly meeting of Cavan County Council, suggesting that Jigsaw - free, confidential, brief mental health supports for young people - could fill that void.
“We need to help these children and their families,” stated Cllr Fay, who said that children suffering a mental health crisis can be taken to a hospital but there are no specific provisions there to provide care. “It’s an absolute joke.”
SOSAD can’t work with children under the age of 16 either, he stated.
“Cavan needs Jigsaw.”
Fellow Independent Shane P. O’Reilly commented that no organisation “does more” to support people with mental health difficulties living locally than SOSAD. But he said Jigsaw was “not the panacea” either.
“It’s a terrible indictment on the country and a health system when a child is taken to a bed at Cavan General Hospital because there is no where else to take them.”
He added that the rate of suicide in Cavan is “on the rise” again. “What’s happening?” he asked.
“What do we do? We send another letter to the minister? The minister knows,” said Cllr O’Reilly. “I don’t know how much more we can keep talking about it.”
Cllr Patricia Walsh (FF) criticised how it could be two to three weeks before health officials respond to a complaint of a child dealing with a mental health crisis.
“There has to be a solution,” she said, adding that it was “frightening” to bring a child to A&E.
“It’s heartbreaking really. I have no answers.”
Cllr Áine Smith (FF) said that what young people are having to deal with and live through at present is “really tough”.
Fine Gael’s T.P. O’Reilly spoke with certainty that it was “important to keep highlighting” where improvements in the system are required.
Cathaoirleach Philip Brady also supported the motion, saying Jigsaw would at least “be another option”.
Fianna Fáil’s Aidan Fitzpatrick also supported the motion.
Cllr Fay returned to speak and ask that the council repeat the motion to write to Minister Donnelly on the matter every month until change is implemented.
It was decided to wait for Minister Donnelly’s initial response before taking any further course.