Psychotherapist and member of the Traveller community Thomas McCann talks to Claire Byrne about the need for action on bullying, racism and suicide following the broadcast of the documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost. Listen back above.

The death of 12-year-old Patrick McDonagh, which featured in the documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, has highlighted the alarmingly high rate of suicide among Irish Travellers. However, the frustration that public awareness of the problem hasn't translated into action is keenly felt by psychotherapist and member of the Traveller community, Thomas McCann. Thomas shared his thoughts and his expertise with Claire Byrne following the recent broadcast of the documentary.

Irish Travellers die by suicide at a rate at least six times the national average. This frequently-quoted figure is almost certainly an under-estimate, Thomas McCann explains, for two reasons. Firstly, the figures date back to a survey taken in 2010, and secondly, they only took adult deaths into account:

"Many in the community believe the figures are actually much higher now and it’s many more children."

Thomas took part in the documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, which features Traveller voices exclusively. Claire played clips from the film on the show and Thomas says it’s painful to hear it again; especially because he believes the situation is not improving:

"I think it is heartbreaking, and even as I listen again to it, it’s really, really difficult to hear even; the suffering that’s going on for families. And I think it’s reflective of many families in the community at this stage. And that’s been emerging over decades and it’s getting worse."

As a psychotherapist, Thomas has met families who have had similar experiences, he says:

"I know families who have lost children and I’ve worked with one or two parents who have lost children already, you know. And so it's very, very difficult, you know, for them."

Thomas mentions a number of HSE policy framework documents dating back decades, that have highlighted issues around mental health and suicide in the Traveller community and in the population as a whole:

"It has been highlighted now as I say, for decades. I mean, you know, we can see from 2006 and even before that with 'A Vision for Change’ highlighted the need for culturally inclusive mental health services, and again in 2010. And then in 2017 and then more recently in the ‘Sharing the Vision.’"

The problem is not new, and it has been well studied, Thomas says:

"One of the key things that I think that the community are very aware of is that there have been policies in place, there's been recommendations made, there have been reports done; but it hasn't turned into action for the community. It hasn’t turned into change."

The fact that the awareness is there; and yet nothing seems to change has a negative impact on the Traveller community Thomas says. It adds to the burden of racism and exclusion when it comes to employment and accessing goods and services, he says:

"A lot of younger travellers can't get into employment, even though we nearly have full employment in the country and there’s over 80% unemployment."

As a community activist, Thomas has engaged with groups of young Travellers and he says they tell him they need to mask their identity to have a chance of getting a job:

"I did a number of groups with younger Travellers and talked to them about the issues and they can't even get an interview unless they disguise their identity and that's very, very difficult because you know, if they do get into employment and it’s found out, some Travellers have been let go, you know, from employment."

Social media plays a huge part in self-esteem among children and young people across the board, Thomas says. Social media interactions are both ever-present and largely hidden from the wider family, he says:

"There is no escape, you’re right, there is no escape from it. I mean, you could escape into the family, you know, wherever you were, if you were living in a house or living in a mobile home, you could escape from it. But now there is no escape."

The problem is not specific to Traveller children - it affects everyone, Thomas says, and its something we need to tackle as a society:

"I think that needs to be looked at. I think it needs to be looked at for settled children as well. I think we need to look at the impact of social media on society and on people's lives and families lives, you know, I think we need to really, seriously look at that."

Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost is available to watch on RTÉ Player.

Ray D'Arcy also spoke about issues raised in the documentary with Bernie Power who features in the documentary and his sister Helena Power who works in Traveller Outreach. Listen back here.

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised here and would like to talk to someone, you can find information on helplines here.