Nation’s mental health ‘at crisis point’ says Mayo founder of online therapy platform

THE Achill-based founder of one of Ireland’s largest providers of online counselling says Ireland needs a pandemic-type response to the mental health ‘crisis point’ facing the nation.

Speaking in advance of World Mental Health Day 2022 (Monday, October 10), Mary McHugh, psychotherapist and founder of CounsellingOnline.ie, says affordability issues mean people are falling through the cracks while GPs are often forced to prioritise offering medication over talk therapy.

Ireland, she said, is 'years behind' our European neighbours when it comes to investment in mental health and supports such as counselling.

“Medication absolutely can have its role but there’s clearly an overreliance on it in Ireland,” says McHugh. “A previous report revealed the HSE spends 40 times more on medication than on counselling.

“We’re talking about hundreds of millions of euros and that ratio needs to be questioned. It is clear people aren’t getting the space and support to explore their problems, address root causes, and the skills they need for good emotional health.

We’re at a national crisis point. The cumulative effect that the pandemic has had on people is very worrying and it’s not being talked about enough. You can’t ask people to stay at home and isolate for a couple of years and then not support them to readjust into society. We’re social beings, disconnecting us has taken a huge toll, and there’s a very serious lack of accessible supports available to those who need help.”

McHugh founded CounsellingOnline.ie as a social enterprise back in 2011 and is credited as being one of the pioneers of online therapy in Ireland.

She became aware of people who couldn’t access face-to-face counselling due to their location or due to physical disabilities. Living on remote Achill island she knew first-hand the importance of being able to access services.

While some doubted the potential for online support, McHugh saw an opportunity. She knew that by creating a trusted platform for therapists to reach clients by video or phone, she could break down the barriers and make counselling much more accessible to those who need it.

Since then online counselling has reached the point where it is becoming mainstream, backed by its popularity among clients and the growing body of evidence to support its value.

“We had our doubters at first but we never gave up. For us, it’s all about being client centred and that means doing all we can to meet their needs and that includes breaking down barriers to accessing support.

“Over 30% of people in Ireland live in rural locations. But it’s not just rural dwellers that benefit from online support. Busy parents, students, and many others often prefer accessing support from the comfort of their own homes. It often saves them time and many feel more comfortable not having to travel. It also opens up options for getting support on evenings and weekends.”

McHugh says while the impact of the pandemic is evident, people are also dealing with challenges such as relationship pressures, work stress, financial pressures, anxiety, addiction, abuse, and grief.

While she says the popularity of her platform is encouraging, it is difficult to meet demand and ensure all who need help can receive it.

“Many people simply can’t afford counselling, that’s the bottom line. It’s heartbreaking to think of them going without the support they need while we’re willing and able to provide it. Our therapists are highly skilled and experienced. They have their own cost of living challenges and need to be paid so we need to charge to fund a quality service, although we do offer discounts where possible.

“Ultimately we need the government to get involved and help make counselling more accessible and available. In 2021, mental health received 5.1% of the total health budget. Sláintecare recommends 10% and the World Health Organisation recommends it should be 12%. The UK spends 13%. We’re so far behind and this means prolonged suffering for countless individuals and families.

“We’ve heard lots of promises over the years. It’s time for action, to invest properly in mental health and to ensure counselling is made available to all who need it.”