Fiona Tuomey, who lost her 11-year-old daughter Millie to suicide almost eight years ago, said the latest budget for mental health services was “exceptionally disappointing”, pointing to continued failings in the sector, reports RTE.
In the 2024 mental health budget, €1.3 billion will be allocated to mental health.
Speaking to Colm Ó Mongáin on RTÉ on Saturday, Ms Tuomey described her family’s harrowing journey to seek help for Millie before she tragically died in January 2016 and believes little has changed in terms of improving services.
She said: “The services are still the same. There is still no care outside of 5pm. There is still no care outside of Monday to Friday. And there is still no number for any parent to call if they have a child waiting for a CAMHS service outside the 9-5,” reports RTE.
“Sadly, that change has not come about. It is only when you are faced with an emergency situation you realise there are no real alternatives available to you,” Ms Tuomey said, reports RTE.
Ms Tuomey added: “We took the path that is still the path today. We were told to go to our GP which we did. She very clearly told the GP how she was feeling,” reports RTE.
They were told that the next step would be to obtain a referral to a primary care psychology service, but due to the long waiting list, they would be considered for an individual route.
She said: “From that time we were waiting for her to be seen as an urgent case. We were given an appointment for the 4th of January. So, a couple of weeks we were told to wait even though Milly was an urgent case. And Milly died by suicide on New Year’s Day. And her life support machine was turned off the day before her first appointment would have been,” reports RTE.
Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler said what Ms Tuomi had done through her daughter Millie’s death is “beyond belief” and she praised her for all the work she had done for HUGG.
She said: “For example, there is now a 24/7 mental health telephone line, not specific to CAMHS, to all mental health. We do have a text line run by Spunout 365 days a year. We now have 75 CAMHS teams in place,” reports RTE.
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