Mental health has become a significant subject in my life over the last year, as I unfortunately watched a loved one go through a crisis situation. It has taught me so much about mental well-being, mental health services, and how we as Irish people approach this subject in general.

I think the most recent campaigns to “open up and talk to someone” are truly great to see. I completely agree that keeping things bottled up can do a significant amount of harm. After all, mental illness lies – thoughts are often distorted and reality is completely skewed, so to open up and talk to someone is often the best way to challenge what’s going on inside your head.

But I feel there really needs to be more attention given to who we talk to once we’re ready. Where should we go if we need help? We’re told to confide in a friend, a family member – but what if they are simply not equipped to offer the delicate, professional advice that’s needed?

I think that, as a country, Irish people are not really equipped to talk about mental health at all. That’s not to play the blame game; it’s not a subject that we were taught in school and it wasn’t a common topic of conversation for many people growing up. How could we possibly know the right language or the correct ways to help someone who is struggling?

We’re told that our first point of professional contact should be our GP, or in a crisis, the emergency department. But what if they’re not equipped either? I’ve sat in several doctors’ offices over this past year, who have all demonstrated significant gaps in knowledge, offering anti-depressants and little else. I’ve sat in A&E too, for more than 14 hours, insisting that this was a crisis situation – but we were sent home again because they simply didn’t have the staff or the beds to accommodate us.

For more local, continued treatment, we’re often pointed in the direction of the Community Mental Health Services. I do believe that the service is an indispensable resource, but The Irish Times recently reported that “a failure to treat patients with dignity, frequent changes of staff and a high focus on medication” were among the issues raised in a nationwide survey. It doesn’t really spark confidence in “opening up”, even to the professionals that we’re encouraged to seek out.

Please don’t get me wrong – I applaud every member of staff within the Irish mental health system who is trying their best with what they have. But what they have isn’t good enough. What we are given isn’t good enough. Telling Irish people to “open up and talk to someone” isn’t enough, because we are often left running in circles once we do.

Of course it’s important to open up; but it is so much more important to get the right reaction, followed by the right care once you do.