Election candidate passionate about mental health services

A young Delvin woman living with anxiety and depression was shocked when her appeal to HSE services led to the response that she would have to wait at least a year to be seen by clinical services.

Youth worker Laura O’Neill, 31, who is to run as an Aontú candidate in the Kinnegad LEA in the local elections in June, says she was going through a particularly rough period at the time: “I was absolutely shocked and saddened by this,” she said.

“To say that a year is a long time to be struggling with mental health without recourse to support is an understatement to say the least.”

Laura’s experience has led to a call by Aontú on the government to take what the party describe as “the continuing crisis around mental health” seriously and make an urgent investment in recruitment and services.

Speaking up and standing up is one of the reasons Laura got involved in politics, she says: “I’m speaking out as I really feel the government could be doing an awful lot more for people with mental health difficulties. It has a duty to.”

Laura says she is lucky to have such a close and cohesive circle of people who care about her, and she has had the experience of dealing with her issues for several years now.

“That undoubtedly helped but it could all have been so different,” she stated.

Continuing, she says her experience is certainly not an isolated one: “I’ve spoken to friends and family and all received the same information about the interminably long waiting list,” she says.

“We all know that resources are stretched but I would question as to whether resources are being utilised in the best way.

“The government need to get a grip on this: it’s a deadly serious issue. People are becoming more disconnected, they’re lonely and suicides are sadly rocketing. This is an issue of life and death.

“I’m delighted to speak out about my own issues as I genuinely feel that it helps people – I’m a firm believer that talking it through helps people to get through.

“I’ve been anxious for as long as I can remember. I was always a bit shy and nervous but I did have friends even then, which is so important.

“I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression when I was 18. Three members of my family passed away in the space of a year and that really hit me. Two of them were young – around my own age at the time – and I found it hard to deal with.

“Even after my diagnosis, I wasn’t fully aware of what was going on.

“I’ve done a lot of work on myself; I’ve had to, and it has made a difference. I have had cognitive behavioural therapy and the HSE do some excellent courses that are free.

“Anything can trigger it. I wouldn’t have the thickest skin. It affects me in different ways, I find it hard in certain social situations but I have to say it drives me forward in lots of ways. I am a determined person.”

Laura went on to say that an extra layer of pressure can come from comments online: “Social media can be terrible; people seem to forget themselves and say things they wouldn’t dream of actually saying to a person face to face.

“I’m lucky that I haven’t encountered any nastiness but I know people who have, and it is terrible. It is so damaging to their self-esteem and this can cause anyone with mental health issues to spiral.

“People want and need to see other young people dealing with mental health issues and living with them. It’s not a struggle for me per se, it just walks parallel with me.

“I take medication, and I am just so grateful it is available to me. It’s like everything else, if people have a headache, they will take a painkiller.

“My family and friends are fantastic to me. That extends to my ‘Aontú family’ too – they are kind, compassionate, fun and supportive and my best friend is a party member too. My mother is my director of elections so I feel it’s one of my ‘circles’.”