News from: media

April 5, 2007

Headline News Highlights (30th March-5th April 2007)

Major problems emerging with mental health tribunals – IMO
Irish Medical News (Fri, 30 Mar 2007)

The IMO has claimed in a major submission to the Department of Health that due to an alleged “procedural error” by the Mental Health Commission, a person who needed the forensic security of the Central Mental Hospital was re-admitted to her original generic facility.

Only 88 of 383 new mental health posts filled by March
Irish Medical News (Fri, 30 Mar 2007)

Out of 383 posts in mental health expected to be filled by March, only 88 will be in place, according to consultant psychiatrist Dr Siobhán Barry. Dr Barry made her comments at the publication of the Mental Health Commission’s 2006 Annual Report. HSE Assistant National Director, Mental Health Services, Dr Martin Rogan, said, while “that is unfortunately the case”, there will be an additional 254 posts in 2007 and he added that there are also quite a lot of people now in locum positions.

New mental health unit for children

Galway City Tribune (Fri 30 March 2007)

A new purpose built residential inpatient unit for children and adolescents under the age of 18 who have mental health issues is to be opened at Merlin Park Hospital. The unit, which will be purpose-built, will provide in- patient care for 20 people and is one of two units in the country recently approved. The capital cost of the project is approximately €ll million, and represents a significant investment in the Mental Health Services in County Galway, as part of the implementation of the new National Mental Health Policy, A Vision for Change.

Mental Health Commission report a 'litany of deficiencies'

Irish Medical News (Mon 2 Apr 2007)

Only two out of 32 catchment areas are sufficiently staffed to be in a position to offer a core multidisciplinary mental health team to each of its sectors, according to the Mental Health Commission's 2006 Annual Report According to Dr Susan Finnerty, Acting Inspector of Mental Health Services, there are also four counties in Ireland with no access to psychiatrists and "the remainder of the country has access to psychiatrists but no access to any specialist multidisciplinary teams and it is incomprehensible that this situation is allowed to continue".

Forced detentions highest in Waterford
Irish Times Subscription (Tue, 3 Apr 2007)

Mentally-ill patients are 11 times more likely to be involuntarily detained in a psychiatric hospital in Waterford than in Limerick, new figures show.

A census of psychiatric hospitals by the Mental Health Commission shows significant variations in the rate of patients being detained against their will in different parts of the country.

Bleak picture painted of mental health care
Irish Medical Times (Wed, 4 Apr 2007)

Lethargic management, low staff morale and motivation, disempowerment, frustration, poor planning, poor distribution of resources and an ad hoc approach to the planning and delivery of treatment are all the hallmarks of Irish mental healthcare in the past 12 months, according to the report of the Inspector of Mental Health Services.

Eight patients to be released
Irish Medical Times (Wed, 4 Apr 2007)

The High Court has ordered the release of eight involuntarily detained psychiatric patients, according to the Mental Health Commission. The Commission revealed the information after Irish Medical Times submitted a list of questions to it in relation to mental health tribunals and subsequent High Court cases.

Mental Health

Community response to Edenderry seminars on mental health

Offaly Independent, (Sat, 31 Mar 2007)

Community leaders in Edenderry are meeting during March and April to learn more about the serious issues of good mental health and suicide prevention and how the community can respond. Through a series of talks organised by the Edenderry Community Development Project- PEAT, and the HSE Suicide Resource Officer, Rita Kelly, many people actively engaged in the community have been attending the Gatekeepers Programme each week. The topics covered are: Mental Health/Mental Illness, Suicide and Self- Harm, Drug Awareness, Depression and the Challenges of Adolescence.

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