The referendum debate proves we have a long way to go to destigmatise mental health in Ireland
Cries of “spurious” and “vague” mental health grounds tell a story of an Ireland where many people with mental health issues are not taken seriously when they look for help.
Regardless of your viewpoint – the one thing on most Irish people’s minds last week is that on Friday, we held a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment from our constitution.
These last few months have gone by in a flurry of radio and TV debates, hot takes, rows, social media battlegrounds and let’s face it – a lot of stress for both those in the thick of campaigning… but also for those on the sidelines watching the culture wars play out online, in the media, and among friends and family.
And there has been one topic for discussion which has raised its head again and again in this debate.
Mental health.
And whether or not “mental health” should be taken seriously as a ground upon which a doctor would sanction procurement of a termination of pregnancy.
Senator Grace O’Sullivan has been deeply critical of the tone of the campaign, and said there had been some “serious assaults on the concept of mental health” during the past number of weeks.
Minister for Health, Simon Harris, also criticised campaigners for claiming the grounds of mental health will be abused by women to seek a termination. At a recent event, he said: “I thought we had come a long way in terms of destigmatising mental health in this country – but it seems any time we want to talk about women’s’ bodies and crisis pregnancies, we go back to stigmatising mental health, we go back to ridiculing mental health as if it is not a real illness. It is appalling.”
And we have seen this ridiculing of mental health play out in almost every debate on the referendum so far.
Last week on the Pat Kenny Show, Senator Ronan Mullen stated that “mental health has no evidence base.” Not only is this clearly factually wrong – it is an immeasurably damaging statement to make. And he’s not alone in coming in for criticism for the tone of his argument around mental health.
Phrases like “undefined mental health grounds” being bandied about – as though mental health is some kind of makey-uppy, trivial thing. Underestimating it. Actively playing it down. Referring to women who cite mental health as a significant problem as “vague”. Psychiatrists – actual psychiatrists – referring to mental health grounds as “spurious”. Something to lie about. Mental health being deemed as a second class issue to physical health. That women who ‘claim’ they have mental health issues are not to be trusted, that they are deceptive.
Does any of this sound familiar?
That’s because it is – all too familiar. This was, not so long ago, the catchcry of Irish society – who judged, feared, shamed and stigmatised people suffering from mental health issues. Who swept it under the carpet and used shame as a tool to make sure people didn’t talk about mental health, or depression, or anxiety, or suicide.
We and so many others like us continue to work incredibly hard to address the stigma surrounding mental health in Ireland. And it worries us so much to see this kind of language creeping into the public consciousness again.
It was incredibly heartening to hear so many people angered by this use of language. It was powerful to see the huge outpouring of condemnation on social media and in the news media following some of the more damaging comments around mental health.
Because the fact is that mental health is real health. Mental health issues are not to be scoffed at, played down. Mental health issues are serious – in fact, the mental health crisis in Ireland is arguably one of the biggest social issues of our generation.
A recent report showed women’s suicide rates are on the increase here, especially among poorer and socially disadvantaged mothers. We know the significant problem of waiting lists and lack of care for young people in particular. And we also know that people die by suicide every single day in this country.
But statistics aside – we know that real families, real lives and real communities are affected by mental illness in Ireland. Deeply and profoundly so. And we absolutely must call out this language when we see it. We must call it out for all the people who are feeling ashamed when they read, hear it and see these messages telling them they are less than, they are not to be believed.
The people who already are doubting the validity of a diagnosis, or wondering if they might be believed if they tell their boss, or a friend. Who are already feeling vulnerable and as though they may not be taken seriously if they ask for help.
This campaign has highlighted how far we have to come in uprooting the lack of understanding at best – and deep judgement at worst – that some people in Ireland still cling to, and that so many people facing mental health issues are deeply wounded and damaged by.
And we have to call it out when we see it.
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