A lack of psychologists is putting lives at risk

MEDICAL experts have warned that a serious shortage of psychologists could lead to a repeat of incidents like the Monageer tragedy where Adrian Dunne murdered his wife and two children before taking his own life.

The “vast majority” of mental health teams across Ireland are failing to employ the minimum number of psychologists and social workers trained to prevent at-risk individuals from taking their lives, they say.

According to the Alliance of Mental Health Professionals group — which includes leading psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists — countless at-risk patients across the country are unable to access vital medical help because of a system-wide shortage of specialists for multi-disciplinary teams.