Majella O’Donnell hits out at mental health services

Majella O’Donnell has strongly voiced her frustration at Irish mental health services and the length of time it takes to access professional help.

Mrs O’Donnell, wife of singer Daniel O’Donnell, runs mental health charity - Donegal Mind Wellness - and has spoken of her own battle with depression, hit out at the delay a friend of hers is having accessing professional help for depression and anxiety.

In an article that appeared in a number of national newspapers, she claims her friend, a young mother, was told she will not get an appointment with a mental health professional until February.

She said: "My friend is a young mother who has been feeling anxious, unmotivated, irritated and generally depressed. She is aware of it and has been on anti-depressants in the past.

"She phoned a psychiatrist to see if she could talk to someone professional and was told that, a) she would have to be referred by her GP, b) she wouldn't be seen until at least February, and c) it would cost her €300 an hour for the psychiatrist."

She added: “I get so bloody angry at this kind of thing. Here is a young woman realising that she has a problem and is trying to do something positive about it and this is what the outcome is.”