Picture: Don Moloney / Press 22
A LIMERICK parish priest has slammed the level of services available to people living with mental illness as “pitifully inadequate, scandalous and inexcusable”.
Speaking at the recent funeral of a young community activist who died by suicide, Moyross parish priest Fr Tony O’Riordan said: “When will we get a health service that is responsive to the needs of people experiencing emotional crisis or a mental health crisis?
“As a society we must insist on an end to the fractious nature of the services within our health system that ought to be able to respond with care and effectiveness to the needs of someone in turmoil and distress. The current configuration of services, the attitudes of many working in those services and the standards of care are pitifully inadequate, scandalous and inexcusable.”
Fr O’Riordan told mourners that people facing mental illness “are more likely to get judgement, silo-like referral, and ultimately wholly inadequate or a meaningless response” and urged people to shout “enough is enough”.
“We can, and we ought to do better,” he added.
Meanwhile, Corpus Christi Primary School in Moyross will host a free talk from author Fr Brendan McManus on the topic ‘Affected by Suicide: Grieving after Suicide’, on Saturday, February 7 from 6pm to 7pm.
Struggling to come to terms with his brother’s suicide, Jesuit priest Fr Brendan McManus decided to walk the Spanish pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago.
He wrote some of his story into a bestselling book – ‘Redemption Road -Grieving on the Camino’.
Proceeds from the book go to the charity CONSOLE, which works to prevent suicide and supports families of people who have died through suicide.
“So many people have been affected by suicide, and families especially have a painful task of coming to terms with their loss. I think Brendan’s story is a powerful one that will offer encouragement to many, and many will appreciate this Northerner’s candid way of talking and writing,” commented Fr O’Riordan.
For more information, or to confirm attendance, email moyrossparish@gmail.com or phone 087 9286945.
