Daniella McManamon
INDIVIDUALS under the care of the Mental Health Services in Mayo are to have a lifeline removed from them, following the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) announcement of plans to drastically cut therapeutic services in Mayo.
For the past nine years those suffering from mental health problems in the county have been able to avail of creative writing, art, PE and ‘well-being’ classes as part of their treatment at day centres in Swinford, Claremorris and Kiltimagh.
They claim that these classes afforded them a new lease of life, giving them back the confidence that their illness had destroyed. Now, however, these services are to be early casualties of the economic downturn.
In recent weeks, tutors at the centres have been contacted by the HSE, notifying them that their hours are to be slashed due to ‘prioritising within the service’. It is a decision that has met with dismay from those who have been benefitting from these services in recent times.
Collette Horkan (25) from Carracastle is one such person. Collette became ill with bipolar depression when she was doing her Leaving Certificate seven years ago. Over the course of a year she attended creative writing classes twice a week at the day centre in Swinford, which helped her enormously.
“The drugs only stabilise the condition, but it is the classes that make you yourself again. The creative writing classes were something to get up for, to look forward to. They helped you to move on and get on with your life.”
Collette went on to study journalism and maintains that the classes contributed hugely to her recovery.
Collette refused to be an anonymous victim, agreeing to be photographed for the Irish Independent last week after speaking out about the proposed cuts. “I wanted to help other sufferers and their families who may be too scared, or too ashamed to talk about the illness and to get help.”
She said of the reaction to that initial article: “I had neighbours and friends calling me and commending my courage. They would then tell me about a loved one who had gone through mental illness. When people are encouraged to speak about mental health, they are keen to join the debate.”
The stereotypes that surround mental illness perpetuate a stigma which can be painful and shaming for the individual. Collette feels no shame, but the attitudes of others still anger her at times. “Nobody asks to get ill. But when someone is diagnosed with a mental illness they are made to feel ashamed, nearly forced to apologise for it. It’s disgusting. Education can go some way to removing the stigma of mental illness; children should be made aware of mental health issues early on. It could happen to anyone.”
A spokesperson for the HSE was keen to assure service users ‘of the HSE’s ongoing support for complementary therapies in principle’. However, in relation to the therapeutic services in question, the spokesperson said: “While making a very valuable contribution to the mental health of clients, they are not considered to be essential.”
