LIMERICK faces particular challenges in relation to mental health, access to services and suicide.
This is the opinion of Social Democrats General Election candidate for Limerick City, Sarah Jane Hennelly, who carried out research locally late last year, which has now partly informed her party’s new mental health manifesto.
“It was important to incorporate the people of Limerick in the development of the manifesto, given particular challenges in relation to mental health, access to services and suicide,” Hennelly explained.
“Our mental health manifesto was created through collaboration with people. We feel this is the only way to make decent policy.”
Last November, the young election hopeful ran a mental health policy evening in Limerick, which has shaped the Social Democrats’ manifesto on mental health. It is based on best practice and people’s needs.
“It’s realistic, holistic and the most comprehensive policy from any particular party to confront the challenges we face in relation to mental health, particularly in Limerick City,” she claimed.
“We have placed more emphasis on mental health in our manifesto than any other party nationally and this represents how important we think it is. We feel we need to address mental health as a matter of urgency and bring it front and centre into Irish politics.”
