SOCIAL Democrats chairperson Sarah Jane Hennelly, has been appointed to the role of party’s national spokesperson for mental health and wellbeing.
She has an extensive background in mental health having worked in research and community based mental health groups across the city for several years. A graduate of European Politics and Law from the University of Limerick, the 28 year-old Castletroy woman sees mental health as a major national issue with Limerick City in particular experiencing ongoing challenges.
“Our government spends half the recommended amount on mental health. Aside from the Connecting for Life Strategy, which focuses on crises and suicide, we have no national mental health strategy in this State. That is a true reflection of the value placed by government and the large parties on mental health.
“Without a blueprint things are aimless and chaotic. That is not good enough in this area or any area for that matter,” she declared.
“In 2015, we held a community policy night on mental health, well-being and suicide in Limerick City. The ideas that were formed during this event were the basis for the Social Democrats 2016 Mental Health Policy.
“Over the next number of months, we plan on holding another policy night. This will allow the people of Limerick to once again influence national policy from the ground up on an issue that is close to all of us, from Limerick City to Dáil Éireann.
“I am confident that the work we do on the ground in the next few months in Limerick City — getting more voices to feed into how we deal with mental health – will serve as the basis of the State’s mental health strategy nationally.
“The Social Democrats and especially our co-leader Roisin Shortall have heavily influenced national policy to-date, I believe this will be no different, but we require input and engagement with people in every walk of life,” she said.
by Alan Jacques
