Travellers say ‘mental health epidemic’ in community needs urgent action

A “lack of political will” to address stark inequalities endured by Travellers is contributing to a “mental health crisis” among the community, Taoiseach Micheál Martin was told on Friday.

Travellers and supporters gathered at Leinster House to mark the UN's Human Rights Day.

A letter to Mr Martin, signed by more than 4,000 people and handed in at Dáil Éireann, said the community wanted to see the community’s human rights vindicated.

Those in attendance heard many Travellers still lived in unsafe and overcrowded conditions without basic facilities, while unemployment among Travellers was over 84 per cent and life expectancy 15 years less than the national average.

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Infant mortality was three times higher than in the settled population and suicide rates were seven times higher, accounting for 11 per cent of Traveller deaths.

‘Political will’

“Institutionalised racism, exclusion, discrimination and a denial of human rights, and the lack of political will to address the stark inequalities the Traveller community have endured for generations . . . have resulted in the crisis the . . . community experiences today,” the letter stated.

The Traveller Mental Health Network, which organised the protest, is seeking an “urgent” meeting with Mr Martin.

Acting chairwoman Margaret McDonagh said younger Travellers were growing up in a society where they remained unequal and “with little support from the leaders of their country.

“We are living through the Covid pandemic with many supports put in place by the Government. Yet the Traveller community is suffering with a mental health epidemic with little to no support. We need positive change and we need it now,” she said.