Bressie to politicians: 'Park the egos' and fix mental health sector

Musician Niall Breslin has urged politicians to “park the egos” and admit mental health services are not even close to being adequate. The singer, better known as Bressie, who has spoken publicly about his own mental health battle has called on the Government to properly address the lack of joined up services.

Appearing before the Oireachtas Health Committee yesterday he gave a passionate speech detailing his own struggles: “Some days I would sit in my classroom on the verge of fainting as I hyperventilated and fought for air while my teachers continued to teach the class, oblivious to the fact that one of their students was in the midst of a living nightmare,” he said. He told politicians major change is needed to plug “the gaping holes in logic” when it comes to mental health.

“For us to progress, everyone in this room has to be painfully honest with each other and accept our mental health services and systems are not even close to being adequate or resourced for the demand and requirement that is put upon them.”