Brother of man who died by suicide calling on government to establish mental health A&Es

Adam Loughnane died hours after presenting himself as suicidal at A&E. Picture: Uplift

A man whose brother died by suicide after waiting to be seen at an emergency department (ED) is calling on the government to establish dedicated mental health EDs, ahead of an Oireachtas committee meeting on Tuesday. 

Joe Loughnane's brother, Adam, died on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, two hours after he presented himself as suicidal in the waiting room of the A&E at the University Hospital Galway. 

Mr Loughnane believes the mental health system is "fundamentally failing people" and said that there was no other option for his brother except to present himself at an "overcrowded emergency department." 

"There's no point in somebody like him sitting there when he's never going to be prioritised over somebody with a physical health emergency, or somebody who is older or somebody who looks visibly in more pain than he is," he told Newstalk Breakfast on Tuesday morning. 

"And that's why we believe A&Es are not appropriate settings in any way for people in a mental health crisis," Mr Loughnane added. 

He said they were "not asking for much" and is urging the government to follow in the footsteps of the UK and Canada, whose national health services have established mental health A&Es.

"It's more about the political will, it's about realising that you cannot funnel people in a mental health emergency into the same place as somebody in a physical health emergency, because that person in a physical emergency will always be prioritised. 

"Because, unfortunately, mental health at the moment is seen just as an add-on to the overall physical health or general health system. It's not seen as the system in and of itself, which is why Adam and many others find themselves just being passed from pillar to post.

"They go to a GP, and they tell them they're suicidal, and they're sent to an emergency department. They go to one of these new solace cafes, and they tell somebody they're suicidal, they're sent to an emergency department. 

"That last option of going to an emergency department, that has to change. There has to be another option there," he added. 

The petition is due to be discussed before an Oireachtas committee later on Tuesday.

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