‘Alcoholics get more attention than mentally-ill’

ALCOHOL abuse receives more attention from Government than mental illness because of the stigma mental illness carries, former political adviser and learning disability campaigner Fergus Finlay said yesterday.

“I don’t think people in the political system think alcohol is a mental health problem at all,” said Mr Finlay, during a discussion in Dublin organised by the Irish Psychiatric Association on moving mental healthcare up the political agenda.

Alcohol abuse was so high up the agenda that even the drinks industry placed advertisements urging people to drink sensibly. He believes the healthcare system has to take some blame.