Members of the Traveller community gathered at the Dáil to seek action over the mental health crisis it is enduring.
The protest was held to mark international human rights day.
The National Traveller Mental Health Network said the level of mental health problems in the community is at crisis point.
Today it was calling on the Taoiseach to do something to address the matter by issuing a letter to Micheál Martin at the Dáil.
National Traveller Mental Health Network handing in a petition to the An Taoiseach at Leinster House pic.twitter.com/uAnZGlsWNb
— Colm Mc Caughey (@colmwhatyalike) December 10, 2021
It said denial of human rights and institutionalised racism are at the root of mental health problems in the Traveller community.
In 2017, a Behaviour and Attitudes study showed that 82% of Travellers had been affected by suicide.
In some areas this was as high as 90%.
Travellers highlighting Mental Health awareness bring a small barrel wagon to Leinster House @rtenews @AilbheConneely pic.twitter.com/tsRnDBttil
— Colm Mc Caughey (@colmwhatyalike) December 10, 2021
Thomas McCann of the National Traveller Mental Health Network has said members of community are dying on a regular basis due to institutionalised racism, a denial of human rights and lack of political will to address these issues over many decades.
