Mythen calls for 24/7 mental health unit for County Wexford

The Chairperson of Enniscorthy Town Council has called on the Minister of Health to provide a full time mental health acute unit for County Wexford.  Sinn Féin Cllr Johnny Mythen had a motion to this effect passed at last week’s town council meeting.

“County Wexford has one of the highest rates of suicide per capita on this island,” Cllr Mythen said, “In fact this county has seen twice the national average of deaths by suicide.  Successive governments promised that a full time bedded mental health unit would remain in the County even after the closure of St Senans.  This has not been the case.”

“Many families who lost loved ones are concerned that alleged bed shortages for people suffering mental health issues which require immediate medical intervention may have cost lives.  Time and again we have heard about these tragedies yet nothing is done to prevent them from happening again.”

“A motion passed by Enniscorthy Town Council has called upon the Minister of Health, Dr James Reilly, in conjunction with the HSE, to provide a much needed 24/7 mental health acute unit in County Wexford.”