A new report has found that mental health services for Travellers should be targeted to combat the suicide rate in the Traveller community - which is six times that of the rate in the general population.
The research on young Travellers' mental health needs concludes that current services are inadequate and need to address the significant turmoil many of them begin experiencing at the age of 12.
It was launched at Dublin's Pavee Point by the National Director of the HSE's Mental Health Division, Anne O'Connor.
The data for the report was gathered from ten workshops in three regions involving 88 participants between the ages of 15 and 21. Without exception, they said persistent discrimination is a core part of their experience.
The study was prompted by evidence that there has been little change since 2010 when a national study conducted at UCD found that the suicide rate in the Traveller community which is six times that of the rate in the general population.
In the case of Traveller males, the rate was seven times higher than in the general population.
The All-Ireland Traveller Health Study found that one in eight Travellers experienced frequent mental distress, defined as 14 or more days of poor mental health in the preceding month.
Ms O'Connor highlighted the role of 34 small primary health teams staffed part-time by Travellers in addressing the challenges identified in the two reports.
She said the HSE planned to increase the capacity of the teams to assist Travellers find help in the country's mainstream mental health services.
Ronnie Fay of Pavee Point told more than 100 people attending the launch that Travellers had experienced the suicides of two young male members of their community in recent weeks.
Michael Collins, a Traveller heath worker, told the launch that he has had to make 20 calls to get assistance from the health services for Travellers in mental distress.
"We can all do a lot more," he told the audience comprised mostly of Travellers and Roma.
The report recommends Traveller support services be set up to encourage discussion about mental health and depression in the community.
It also recommends that positive mental health and coping mechanisms be communicated to people in the early stages of second-level education.
