Psychiatric services for children and adolescents are sadly lacking in most areas of the country, according to the chairman of the Psychiatric Nurses Association.
At the association's annual conference in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, yesterday, Mr Gerry Coone said these services needed to be comprehensively developed.
There were wide variations in the provision of services between health board areas.
In his speech to the conference the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, said his Department is currently preparing a development plan for child and adolescent psychiatry "which we hope to make a start on next year".
Mr Coone said the World Health Organisation has recommended action to reverse the rising trend in suicide by the year 2000.
"But reports are not enough. They need to be acted upon. This country now enjoys unprecedented prosperity, and there is now no excuse for continuing to deny the resources necessary to provide comprehensive psychiatric services so that we can seek to reduce these awful suicide rates."
He said the increase in suicide rates in recent decades has been primarily a male phenomenon, particularly males aged 15 and 24 years. It is now the second most common cause of death among this age group.
There is no argument but that suicide and mental illness are closely related.
A recent North Eastern Health Board survey revealed that 23 per cent of 16-year-old girls and 19 per cent of schoolboys of the same age reported psychological problems, which needed clinical help.
"Among school-leavers the incidence for girls is a frightening 39.5 per cent compared with 10 per cent for boys."
Mr Coone said the PNA had welcomed plans for the developing of a modern health service, as outlined in the report on the development of the services, Planning for the Future.
"This union, despite giving the initial green light to developments in this regard, is most disappointed with the lack of investment by consecutive governments. Indeed, might I add, it has been used in many circumstances as a cost-saving exercise.
"In the 15 years since the report was published we can state that developments have been patchy and far from comprehensive; in many parts of the country we have little in the way of a proper infrastructure for the delivery of comprehensive mental health vices."
Mr Coone said there were wide variations in the provision of services for the elderly and the young. "The Eastern Health Board is to be applauded for its work in providing mental health services to all age groups. Its pioneering work for the aged, both functionally and organic mentally ill, highlights the appalling failure of, for example, the Midland Health Board to even address the issue."
Mr Cowen said he recognised that the mental health services required continuing attention.
"As well as seeking the funding required to build up community based services, we must also examine how we utilise the resources available to us within the system as efficiently and effectively as possible," the Minister said.