News from: media

February 4, 2011

Headline News Highlights (31st Jan- 4th Feb 2011)

Eating Disorders

Bulimia linked to Facebook

Irish Daily Star (Wednesday, 02 February 2011)

Girls hooked en Facebook are more likely to develop eating disorders, experts say. Every hour they spend on the site increases the risk of anorexia and bulimia, according to a study at the University of Haifa in Israel. Facebook — more than any other website— forces users to focus on their looks, habits and behaviour. Those with a negative body image are more likely to develop an eating disorder.

Eating problems in Irish children and adolescence

Tirconaill Tribune (Friday, 28 January 2011)

A new study led by Professor Fiona McNicholas and Dr. Barbara Dooley of University College Dublin examined eating disorders, exercise and dieting habits among secondary school children in Ireland. They found that almost one third of the girls surveyed had dieted and eleven percent had results suggestive of an eating disorder, with girls who attended mixed schools appearing most at risk.

Mental Health Service

Rural helpline tackles isolation issues

Irish Examiner (Wednesday, 02 February 2011)

People calling the HSE South's farm and rural stress helpline are lonely and depressed, are suffering abuse or have specific problems around farming and inheritance. Figures released by the HSE, show 371 calls were received in 2010 to its dedicated helpline, established in 2004 as a practical response to help address the issue of loneliness and isolation experienced by people living in rural areas in Cork and Kerry.

Consultants were 'snubbed' by HSE over unit closure

Irish Independent (Monday, 31 January 2011)

The HSE "alienated" a group of consultant psychiatrists by publicly announcing the closure of an acute psychiatric unit without warning. The claim is made in a report by an outside expert on the decision to shut the 49-bed St Michael's acute psychiatric unit in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, last year. Consultant psychiatrists in south Tipperary have now accused the HSE of behaving in "a dictatorial manner" by deciding to close the unit and move inpatients to Kilkenny.

Patients restrained or secluded 5,000 times during 2009

Irish Times (Saturday, 29 January 2011)

Psychiatric patients were either restrained or secluded in mental health facilities on more than 5,000 occasions during 2009, according to a new report by the Mental Health Commission.

€12m mental health unit proposed for CUH

Evening Echo (Friday, 28 January 2011)

A new €12 million mental health unit has been proposed as a replacement to the existing facility at Cork University Hospital (CUH). Planning permission has been sought for the construction of a 50-bed acute adult mental health unit at CUH. Building works are planned to commence on site in the autumn of 2011 and those works are expected to last 10 months.

Five years of Pieta House

Lucan Gazette (Thursday, 27  January 2011)

Pieta House, marked five years in Lucan this week. The facility was officially opened in 2006 by then Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, TD and, since that time, has counselled over 3,000 individuals, most of whom were in crisis and on the verge of suicide.

Those with intellectual disabilities are being ignored

Medical Independent (Thursday, 27  January 2011)
Thousands of Irish citizens with intellectual disability and comorbid mental illness are being denied the right to adequate mental health care, the College of Psychiatry of Ireland has said. According to a special report by the College, launched earlier this week to mark the 5th Anniversary of A Vision for Change, there are currently just two mental health of intellectual disability teams in place, despite A Vision for Change calling for 39 such teams. Furthermore the two teams that are in existence are both based in Dublin and none are fully staffed as per the strategy.

A lack of vision in mental health

Medical Independent (Thursday, 27  January 2011)

On its fifth anniversary, June Shannon examines progress in implementing A Vision for Change.  When it was published in 2006, A Vision for Change was embraced and welcomed by politicians, healthcare professionals and service users alike. More importantly, it was adopted by the Government and the HSE as an official policy that would shape the future of mental health services in Ireland. However five years on, Ireland still does not have a fully or even partially implemented comprehensive modern mental health service as set out in the report for all those that require it.

€15.6m invested in essential community mental health services

South Tipp Today (Wednesday, 26  January 2011)

Essential modernisation of mental health services and facilities in South Tipperary are progressing well it has been revealed, with the investment of €15.6 million in the provision of community-based mental health facilities by 2012. Although one year behind schedule, the programme to update and improve desperately archaic and neglected mental health services is well under way in South Tipperary, and now Carlow and Kilkenny, which is considered one catchment area for the planning and delivery of mental health services.

Self-harm

'BOYS AS YOUNG AS 12 SELF-HARMING'

Irish Daily Star (Thursday, 03 February 2011)

Boys as young as 12 and men in their 60s were among the 1,300 new cases of self-harmers that were treated in Ireland last year. According to CEO and founder of Pieta House, Joan Freeman, self-harming boys and men are usually covering up their wounds and disguising them as sports injuries.

 Suicide

High rate of males taking own lives may be legacy of Troubles
Irish Times (Tuesday, 01 February 2011)

Suicide rates in Northern Ireland have risen sharply since the end of the Troubles with the young, and men in particular, featuring more and more in the statistics. The NI Public Health Agency reports that suicide rates, which remained static throughout the second half of the 20th century, suddenly jumped by 64 per cent between 1999 and 2008.

Suicide Prevention

Pieta House opens new centre for suicide prevention

Irish Examiner(Friday, 04 February 2011)

Pieta House, the suicide and self-harm charity, opened a new purpose-built facility in Limerick. Limerick has the seventh highest suicide rate of any city in Ireland and Britain and the highest rate of deliberate self-harm in Ireland. Fine Gael finance spokesman Michael Noonan, who opened the new centre, said Limerick's rate of suicide was shocking.

Letters to the editor: Scheme can aid in suicide fight

Irish Examiner (Wednesday, 02 February 2011)

The increased risk of suicide among older people associated with increased social isolation as one of the consequences of the economic recession is consistent with findings of an innovative Suicide Support and Information System (SSIS) that is being piloted by the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) in collaboration with coroners, healthcare professionals and bereaved family members in Co Cork since September 2008.

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