News from: media

February 6, 2009

Headline News Highlights (30th January -6th February 2009)

Mental Health

Teenagers turn spotlight on social issues in nationwide programme
Irish Times (Fri, 6 Feb 2009)
More than 800 teenagers came together in Dublin yesterday to talk about issues that concern them. But there was no mention of lip gloss, PSPs or Ugg boots. Instead, they discussed issues such as animal testing, the psychological effect of hair loss during chemotherapy, and the links between suicide and relationship break-up.

Abuse of gay, lesbians common here
Irish Health (Wed, 3 Feb 2009)
Some 80% of gay and lesbians in Ireland have experienced verbal abuse, while one-quarter have experienced violence because of their sexual orientation, a new study has shown. Supporting LGBT Lives: A Study of the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People included an online survey of 1,100 people and in-depth one-to-one interviews with 40 people.

New name for mental health body
Evening Echo (Fri, 30 Jan 2009)
Schizophrenia Ireland has announced that it has changed its name to Shine - Supporting People Af- fected by Mental 111 Health. The name change is part of an ongoing internal review of the organisation.

President McAleese Congratulates Arts Department
President Mary McAleese welcomed Wexford Co. Arts Officer Rosaleen Molloy and Liz Powell, CEO of the Association of Irish Choirs to Áras an Uachtaráin on Friday last, January 16th. President McAleese congratulated the Arts Department of Wexford County Council and the Association of Irish Choirs for a project undertaken during 2008, in partnership with Mental Health Ireland, which promoted the volunteerism of people across Ireland in their participation in a National Day of Choral Singing, to mark World Mental Health Day 2008.

Mental Health Service

€20m to be spent in updating mental health services
Irish Examiner (Sat, 31 Jan 2009)
Health Service Executive boss Prof Brendan Drumm has confirmed the health authority is to spend €20 million on modernising mental health services in south Tipperary. Prof Drumm said the investment programme in the region was part of the HSE's plan to invest an estimated €500m in mental services over the next five years and reflect- ed huge improvements made across the country.

Child placements in adult psychiatric facilities to cease?
Irish Medical Times (Fri, 30 Jan 2009)
The Minister with responsibility for Mental Health has made a public commitment to cease the inappropriate practice of admitting children and adolescents to adult psychiatric facilities by the end of next year. 

Mental Illness

Mental illness does not up violence risk
Irish Health (Tue, 3 Feb 2009)
People with a mental health illness are no more likely than anyone else to commit acts of violence, the results of a new study indicate.  However mental illness combined with substance abuse does increase the risk of future violence. According to US researchers, these findings show that a link between mental illness and violence does exist, ‘but it is not as strong as some people think’.

Suicide Prevention

Time for the media to revisit guidelines
Irish Times (Tue, 3 Feb 2009)
The coverage of Patrick Rocca’s death should prompt a rethink by sections of the media. It is deeply regrettable that the Rocca family has experienced press coverage of Patrick’s death as intrusive and hurtful.

Conference hears of 'hidden suicides'
Irish Times (Tue, 3 Feb 2009)
At least one-third of single-vehicle road traffic accidents and a certain proportion of “accidental” poisonings and drownings in Ireland may be hidden cases of suicide, a conference heard at the weekend.  Dr Ella Arensman, Director of Research at the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) said that the real figure for completed suicides in Ireland was likely to be higher than the annual average of 500 suicides estimated by Central Statistic Office (CSO) figures.

IMO calls for action now on suicide
Irish Medical Times (Fri, 30 Jan 2009)
The IMO has called for the full implementation of both Reach Out: The National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention and the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Sub-Committee on the High Level of Suicide in Irish Society.

Depression

Too much TV ups depression risk
Irish Health (Wed, 4 Feb 2009)
Teenagers who are exposed to a high amount of television and other electronic media may be at an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms in young adulthood, the results of a new study indicate.

Hormone linked to postnatal depression
Irish Health (Wed, 4 Feb 2009)
Women who have higher levels of a specific hormone midway through their pregnancy may be more likely to develop postnatal depression, the results of a new study indicate. According to US researchers postnatal depression usually begins within four to six weeks of giving birth and risk factors include a history of depression, stressful life events and a lack of social support. However these risk factors cannot be attributed to everyone who goes on to develop this type of depression.

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