Closure of mental health beds in hospital slammed
By Maurice Garvey
THE organiser of the Green Ribbon mental health awareness day held in Ballyfermot last week blasted the closure of mental health beds in Cherry Orchard Hospital as a “catastrophe.”
Rick Rossiter, See Change Ambassador, said the move will have a “detrimental impact” on youth mental health.
He said: “Basically if the live-in beds are closed and a child really needs the support, they could end up on an adult ward, and that is not beneficial to their health at all.”
Local teenager Peter Brady (18) recalled his own experience of attending A&E a number of years ago, prior to being submitted to an adult physciatric ward.
“It was horrific,” said Peter. “You’d see people thrown around and feel very unsafe and because they weren’t your age as well, that just made you feel more unsafe.”
Over 200 people attended the Green Ribbon event in the Civic Centre which brought together a wide range of local groups – promoting positive mental health with information stands.
Groups included the Rainbow Clubhouse, National Learning Network, MABS 10 & 20, Ballyfermot CIS, Grow, Shine, Lifestart, Barnardos, Inchicore Domestic Violence Outreach Service, Ballyfermot and Chapelizod Partnership and Men’s Sheds from Ballyfermot and Inchcicore.
Free alternative therapies and workshops, including Reiki and Indian head massage, were provided by therapists connected with organisations such as National Learning Network, Bungalow in Cherry Orchard and Threshold Training Network in Tallaght.
