Joan Freeman, founder of Pieta House The founder of the suicide prevention charity Pieta House has said it is important to remember the human stories behind mental health statistics.
New figures have revealed that almost 17,000 children between five and 17 are waiting over a year to see a psychologist.
The charity’s founder Joan Freeman said that many parents and children are suffering as a result of mental health problems.
“It’s nothing new, but what I would love for people to understand is that behind every single number there, we are talking about parents who just don’t know what to do,” said Ms Freeman.
“Many of those parents would say that while their children are on that waiting list they develop other issues.”
Pieta House opened in 2006 in Lucan, Dublin, and has since helped over 30,000 people in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm and established 12 subsequent centres across Ireland.