Monday 30 May 2022

Why do 10% of traveller babies die before their 2nd birthday? Why are suicide rates 7 times higher than non-travellers? Who is accountable? Join Travellers & allies outside the Dáil tomorrow at 12noon

Mags Casey, chairperson of the National Traveller Mental Health Network lost 29 family members to suicide over 10yrs. RIP. She is calling for accountability & implementation of traveller policy. Join her, fellow travellers and traveller allies outside the Dáil tomorrow at 12 noon.


Click links to hear Mags explain how decades of institutional discrimination has led to a mental health crisis within the traveller community.


Video: Part1👇


https://twitter.com/TravellersMH/status/1531283386312146944?cxt=HHwWgIC-uY6Im8AqAAAA

 Video: Part 2👇

 https://twitter.com/TravellersMH/status/1531283700343873536

Minceir beoir Rose Marie Maughan outlines more examples of institutional discrimination here👇

https://twitter.com/Minceirbeoir/status/1530953974077087744?cxt=HHwWgICzheahhb8qAAAA

Here's an article I wrote a while back on why I'm a proud Traveller ally ✊💓

https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/anti-traveller-vitriol-is-socially-acceptable-here-but-lets-call-it-what-it-is-racism-39502475.html

The BBC reported in April: Irish Travellers suffer some of the worst discrimination and poverty of any ethnic group in Europe, according to European Union research.

Members of the community have said it is causing a mental health crisis in their home country.

In Ireland, 11% die by suicide and life expectancy is up to 15 years shorter than the wider population.

Rose Marie Maughan works with the Irish Travellers Movement, a national network of over 40 organisations.

"Our suicide rate is seven times higher than non-travellers," she said.

"Only 3% of us live past the age of 65 and 80% of us are unemployed.

"If that was any other community in Ireland, there would be international attention."


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