Call for dedicated Traveller helpline to tackle mental health crisis
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A dedicated out-of-hours helpline is needed to deal with a mental health crisis faced by the Irish Traveller community, the authors of a new study have said.
The report by the Exchange House Ireland National Travellers Service, which was launched on Monday, found that up to 80% of the community has been affected by suicide.
The study, which began four months ago, worked with focus groups in Cork, Kerry, Cavan, and Wicklow.
There are 40,000 registered members of the Traveller community in Ireland and the report authors said there is a huge amount of stigma among families when it comes to mental health.
The researchers also found Travellers are afraid to come forward with mental health issues in case their children are taken into care.
Psychotherapist and Traveller Counselling Service action manager Thomas McCann said there are “major gaps” in the services.
“This is a crisis, and it has been recognised as a crisis,” said Mr McCann.
“We need the development of national initiatives to shift that. We were promised in the Programme for Government the development of the all-Ireland national Traveller mental health strategy, but that hasn’t happened.
The proposal for an out-of-hours helpline would see it operating from 6pm to 9pm by “qualified professionals and trained listeners from both Traveller and other communities”.
It would also provide a listening service, referrals, information, and follow-up calls.
The proposal is for the service to be funded by the HSE.
“We need more initiatives to turn this around,” said Mr McCann, who is a member of the Traveller community.
“We are trying to turn the tide on suicide within the Traveller community, we need an out-of-hours crisis line which has been very difficult to get up and running.”
He also said research found that Travellers have not been linking to the services.
“It’s stigma and shame,” he said
Charities that work with suicidal behaviours and self-harm such as Pieta House and the Samaritans have said they want to be involved in the helpline.
“We met with them,” said Mr McCann. “They are very keen to work with us. There are also international models, such as the indigenous communities in the US, and we looked at how they created a model.
Senator and Traveller Eileen Flynn said: “It’s not about segregation, but choice. If a Traveller person is struggling it is important to get emergency helplines, and with someone who understands.
“We make up less than 1% of the community. The stigma is changing a little bit but there is this shame.
“Post-natal depression is taboo, there are supports there but there is a fear of being put in an asylum and your kids being taken.
“I had post-natal depression on my first child and I never said a word in the hospital, I was too afraid.”
Exchange House Ireland National Travellers Service CEO Kevin Burn said: “The key finding is this helpline is needed. Suicide levels are so much higher in the Traveller community and they feel they have no place to go to meet that immediate need.
“They need a pathway, there is a huge amount of discrimination being faced by the community that have grown up in a society that they are always discriminated against.
“The experience I get from members is, the experience with statutory services has always been negative."