News from: media

December 10, 2010

Headline News Highlights (3rd-10th December 2010)

Mental Health

Recession-proof relationships

Irish Times (Wednesday, 8 December 2010)

As financial pressure and a sense of helplessness takes its toll on relationships and mental health, the number of people seeking counselling with MRCS for problems associated with the current economic situation has risen by more than 30 per cent in the past 18 months, says Moore, who gives two-hour counselling sessions at a minimal charge called Minding your Relationships in the Recession.

UK Honours For Tullamore Native

Tullamore Tribune (Thursday, 2 December 2010)

Tullamore native, Dr. Patrick Geoghegan has scooped a hat trick of top UK honours recently. Back in the summer, Patrick was nude a Professor of Mental Health and Social Care by Angela Ruskin University and was recently presented with the JW Starkey Silver Medal Award by we UK's Royal Society of Public Health. The medal is only awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement and significant contribution in the field of mental health and it is one of the Royal Society's most prestigious awards.

Mental Health Service

Spending on mental health cut by 1.8%

Irish Examiner (Wednesday, 8 December 2010)

Mental health and disability spending will be cut by a maxi mum of 1.8% in what has been described by health minister of state John Moloney as "special consideration for the two sectors". Additionally, there's further provision for expenditure of up to €l5m on priority mental health projects. The minister also welcomed an additional €lm provided for suicide prevention.

At-risk prisoners placed in 'safety cells' for weeks on end
Irish Times (Wednesday, 8 December 2010)

Vulnerable prisoners at risk of self-harm and suicide are being placed in safety observations cells for weeks at a time because there is still no high-support unit at Mountjoy Prison, a new report by the mental health regulator says. Inspectors at the Mental Health Commission say they are “concerned” that observation cells are the only resources available to treat vulnerable prisoners at Mountjoy.

Dilapidated, depressing and not fit for human habitation: welcome to St Senan's

Irish Independent (Wednesday, 8 December 2010)

The plight of patients forced to live in dilapidated, depressing Victorian psychiatric facilities which are not fit for human habitation, is exposed in a series of reports. Despite decades of promises, the inspector of mental health services has found patients surrounded by peeling paint or placed in seclusion, sometimes for months, in rooms which are grim and dark.

Stabbed in the back
The Kingdom (Friday, 3 December 2010)

The decision to close a Killarney training facility for clients of the Kerry Mental Health Service has been slated by local psychiatric nurses who described the move as cynical and short-sighted. PNA branch organiser, Cormac Williams, who is attached to St Finan’s Hospital in Killarney, described the Health Service Executive’s decision to withdraw support funding from the project as "another stab in the back" for the mental health services in Kerry.

Suicide

Samaritans brings awareness to Waterford schools

Dungarvan Observer (Wednesday, 8 December 2010)

Secondary students from five Waterford schools took part in an innovative suicide awareness event organised recently by Waterford & South East Samaritans and Dublin based Smashing Times Theatre Company. The initiative comprised of a drama workshop which explored the experience of those who have lost loved ones to suicide, and of those who have experienced extreme distress and suicidal feelings themselves. The drama was followed by group work, allowing the student audience to explore the difficult topic of suicide in an open and supportive manner. The workshops were supported by a panel of experts and counsellors from the main suicide awareness organisations and Waterford Samaritans.

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