Drug problem must be faced

“We had a white Christmas in Cavan. A white Christmas of cocaine" said Cllr of problems facing county.

More State resources need to be focused on communities groups for children and young adults to address the “crisis” of rising suicide numbers. Notices of motion by Councillors Philip Brady (FF) and Aiden Fitzpatrick (FF) on the affect of suicides on communities were a response to recent local tragedies. The motions were debated at length at the February meeting of Cavan County Council (see page 8).

They called for HSE to provide support for schools and sports clubs for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention initiatives. In supporting the motion Cllr Shane P O’Reilly (Ind) said: “It does feel as if we are in the throes of an epidemic. In the last 16 months there have been six fatalities from those who found themselves in a situation none of us want to find ourselves in.”

The independent Mullagh representative said it was a serious problem that A&E and psychology services were the only State supports for mental health crisis intervention and suggested they were “not suitable for every underage person” in dire circumstances.

While many factors contribute to mental health issues, Cllr O’Reilly suggested drug problems are an underlying factor in some cases and the issue shouldn’t be shied away from.

“We have to face up to the problem of illegal drugs,” Cllr O’Reilly said. “We had a white Christmas in Cavan. A white Christmas of cocaine. Young people are slaves to cocaine, gardaí are to the pin of their collar in dealing with an avalanche of drugs in this county.”

Cllr O’Reilly also raised the issue of young girls being drugged in nightclubs by injection spiking: “We are at a crisis point,” he said, “I don’t want to be at another graveside listening to parents wailing over the loss of another child.”

Cllr Paddy McDonald (SF) acknowledged that drugs are a problem in the county. He called on the Health Minister to put more resources at the disposal of community groups and sports organisation to support mental health initiatives.

Cllr Craig Lovett (FF) said: “We must have an honest and open conversation about drugs in the community.” Cllr Lovett also asked to add an amendment to the motions of Cllrs Fitzpatrick and Brady for an outreach roadshow that would go into schools, community groups and sports clubs to educate young people about mental health.

Cllr Brendan Fay (Ind) said: “Drugs are a major problem in County Cavan. Cavan and Monaghan are the second worst outside of the capital. Something has to be done or these unbearable tragedies will continue to encroach into our communities.

Cllr Patricia Walsh (FF) referenced the “awful scourge” suicide was on communities: “We need a lot more funding to tackle the problem. Young people need to know that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. We need to get that message across.”

Addressing the chamber Cllr TP O’Reilly (FG) said the key was to “get into schools” and that it was “important that the message gets through to young people”. Cllr O’Reilly said: “If only young people who commit suicide could see the devastation wreaked on families in the wake of their death they would never do it.”

Party colleague Carmel Brady (FG) said the CMETB had a critical incident team which attends schools in the wake of such tragedies. She said this support should be rolled out to all non-CMETB school, youth cafes and community centres.

Cllr John Paul Feeley (FF) said suicide was “a very difficult issue” and that it was not simply “one problem”. Cllr Feeley said: “We are always looking for some to solve the problem, never having a discussion about the value we have lost, or the emphasis on material things.”

He said his heart and sympathies went out to the families bereaved by suicide.

Cllr Winston Bennett (FG) said resourcing community supports was a vital cog in facing up to the problem.