Paul Hosford: The State should not be absolved of its role in the public's mental health

The focus of the mental health discussion must shift now to staffing levels, to facilities, to ensuring that children don’t have to languish on waiting lists because of a lack of staffing

Every one assured me of something I already knew: That I could speak to them. But I knew that. With the greatest respect in the world to each and every one, none of the people in my life was equipped to handle it — nor should they be.

I remember where I was when I turned the car around. In fact, every time I drive past the apartment buildings at the foot of Knockmaroon Hill in Chapelizod, I remember it. I had dropped a colleague home and happened to glance at my emails.

There, I found a response to an email I had sent 12 hours earlier as a panic attack subsided — leaving me drained and scared. The counselling service I had emailed, one of many, had a free slot at 5.30pm, did I want it?