Bereaved Kildare mum fights for new mental health legislation

A NEWBRIDGE woman bereaved earlier this year by her son’s suicide, has said she’s “disgusted” with the attitude of the Junior Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler, as she pursues of including ‘dual diagnosis’ into the Mental Health Act.

Noeleen Eustace lost her only son Kelvin Brennan (26) on 23 May, after his lifelong struggle with Asperger’s Syndrome, and only three days after he successfully completed a Level 5 qualification in Community Health and Social Care at Newbridge Community College.

Noeleen had noticed behavioural differences in Kelvin as young as 18 month and “was eight years going to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) back and forth”, until he was 13 when he first told his mother that he wanted to kill himself.

She went to her GP, and he recommended waiting for CAMHS, but instead Noeleen pursued a private consultation in Temple Street where Kelvin’s diagnosis was first made.

“We went back to CAMHS after that (diagnosis) and do you know what they said to me? ‘We though it might be that’ on a one-line report,” said Noeleen.

“The private report (from Temple Street) was 18 pages long!

“That’s what people are dealing with for trying to get ‘dual diagnosis’ be put into the Mental Health Act.” Dual diagnosis refers to having a combination of a mental health two disorder and a substance misorder at the same time.

“In the Senate last week for the debate Mary Butler the TD from Waterford who is the junior Minister with responsibility for mental health, and she said it’s not going in.

“What is dual diagnosis? She asked that twice – flippantly.

“I mean, only in June she was asked to resign for saying that Autism and ADHD was a trend!” she said.

Not unlike a certain position being held across the other side of the Atlantic, posited the Kildare Nationalist.

“A hundred per cent like RFK Jnr and Trump with his Tylenol!” Noeleen agreed.

“I’ve lived with autism for 26 years and it’s awful without an early diagnosis.

“A prime example is Adam Harris (brother of Tánaiste Simon Harris) from ‘As I Am’ who got an early diagnosis and is thriving.

“My Kelvin could’ve been as good as that if he got an early diagnosis.

“All research will tell you that early diagnosis intervention will really help these young people to do very well in the world, otherwise they’ll end up on one of three different paths – the criminal justice system, substance abuse, or dead.

“Tony Atwood’s book ‘The Complete Guide to Asperger’s’ will tell you that.

“Even the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum is reporting an increase of admissions from people on the spectrum, and we have a junior minister saying, ‘what is Asperger’s?’ ... it’s and insult, and I’m disgusted with her.

“People are self-medicating to get through. It’s scary.

“Minister Butler is responsible for doubling the time of Electric Shock Treatment (EST) without the assessment of a psychiatrist.

“We are going backwards, and that is scary,” she said.

Asked about what is driving her in this campaign

“I’m not going to get my son back, and I’m not doing it for money, but I’m looking for ‘dual diagnosis’ recognition, and Sinn Fein are the only party pursuing this.

“Not one local representative in Newbridge has contacted me, not one,” she said. “Something’s wrong.”

A petition has been created by Noeleen, which can be found on https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/kelvins-law.