Mental health must be a priority for Gardaí – Richmond

Mental health supports for Gardaí must continue to be a priority throughout the Covid-19 crisis and into 2021, Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond has said.

Deputy Richmond said: “Budget 2021 provides a record €1,952 billion in funding for Gardaí. This will provide for the recruitment of 620 new guards and an additional 500 garda staff members.

“This is very welcome, as is the €13m in funding for PPE and an additional €22m for Garda ICT, however, mental health supports cannot be forgotten.

“I am hopeful that the increased budget announced for the organisation this year will see more funding put into tangible supports for our Gardaí in terms of counselling services, treatments and mental health wellness sessions for all.

“Our Gardaí are working tirelessly on the front lines every day and are often exposed to some of the most testing of situations, events of this past week highlight some of the harrowing scenes that our Gardaí are often the first to attend to and must in turn investigate.

“On a daily basis, our Gardaí put their own physical and mental health on the line in order to protect our society. Sadly, we have seen 13 members of An Garda Síochána take their own lives over the past three years.

“Police forces across the world have issues around mental health and we must therefore ensure our Gardaí are supported properly.

“It must also be noted with our own Gardaí, the very welcome recruitment drive means that the average age profile of a Garda is relatively young and the experiences they face can prove extremely difficult.

“Through a parliamentary question to the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, I received assurance that welfare supports will be available to all Garda staff during the pandemic.

“This includes access to the Employee Assistance Service, a 24/7/365 telephone helpline and counselling service, the Inspire Wellbeing Hub, Peer Supports and the chaplaincy service.

“The minister has also informed me that work is underway to develop pathways to support and treat staff members who require assistance with their physical or mental health.

“These services are signs of progress in the culture of mental health in An Garda Síochána and how seriously it is taken, and this is certainly welcome. That all said, clearly there is room for improvement in these supports and mental health must be a priority.

“Given her experience as Minister of State for Mental Health, Minister McEntee is well equipped to take on this issue and I am glad that she considers this to be a matter of the highest importance.”