Care for the mentally ill

Sir, – John Farrelly of the Mental Health Commission has again highlighted the HSE’s failure to meet the needs of the mentally ill (“Warning over care of mentally ill patients”, News, June 9th).

We are most likely to have our first episode of mental illness before the age of 25 years. An immediate, holistic and co-ordinated response from medical, psychological and social services leads to the best outcomes in treatment. This provides our young people with the best opportunity to reach their full potential rather than die young or develop a chronic and disabling dependency on the State.

For many years now the lion’s share of our health budget has gone to the treatment of cancer and heart disease which we are more likely to suffer in old age. How long must we wait for the mentally ill to get their fair share of the health budget? – Yours, etc,

BRIAN McNULTY,