I am annoyed! - Gov't to cut Sucide Funds

I just read a piece on Irishhealth.com that points out the the Government are to cut funds to the National Office for Suicide Prevention by 12.5%. The cuts will come to funds availible to mental health support groups.

This is a terrible time for this. Mental Health is underfunded in this country and the fact that the government is to do this is highly annoying. This is aswell a highly stressful time for people with job losses and wage cuts and higher taxes meaning people are under pressure and things will only get worse.

According to Dan Neville TD, the Fine Gael Spokesperson with special responsibility for mental health said

Research into suicide since the 1890s shows that there is an increase in suicide rates and mental illness during times of economic recession. The Minister for Health and the HSE should be responding to this need in the present economic crisis. They are doing the opposite and justifying it on the back of saving a relatively small amount of money

He hits the nail on the head when he says "Government cutbacks in this area at a time of financial crisis amounted to a decision to save money at the expense of lives."

It is well known and documented that suicide rates increase during recessions, especially if foreclosures are on the increase. As deputy Neville says,

The high rate and threat of home foreclosures is of concern. For most Irish, our homes are our primary investment and the locus of our identities and social support systems. When combined with the loss of employment, home loss or the threat of home loss, has been found to be one of the most common economic strains associated with suicides

Rising unemployment will see a rise in suicide rates, that is a well known and documented fact. Deputy Neville points out the Kelleher/Daly Cork Study in the 1980s, in which two thirds of the men who took their life, were out of work at the time.

As usual the Government will blame the economic crisis for all this, but just like the attempted cut in the disability area in the budget was reversed because of the paltry savings, this should be reversed aswell!

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A Vision For Change - Ministers Response

Well I got a response last week from Minister Harney's Private Secretary about my enquiry on funding for Vision for Change. I was basically sent a rewritten press release with my name on the top of it. The part they really want to ram home is this I think

In view of the significant additional investment in 2006 and 2007, it is appropriate, in 2008, to pause and review the situation to ensure consolidation of the investment to date.

That is no excuse, and we should not be taking it for an excuse. The investemnt is needed according to the minister letter over "7 – 10 years" so why are we stopping after two years of not complete investment?

According to the Minister

A total of €51.2 million has been allocated since 2006 which represents over a third of the overall requirement

Yet we know that most of this money was not spent on the investemnt it was earmarked for!

I am not happy with the response. I will now be contacting my Local TD's and Senators. I do not like being misled, which this response clearly is aiming to do.

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Previous Posts:
Government set to abandon "A Vision for Change"
Last post, actions to follow up
"A Vision For Change" Budget not spent on Mental Health!

Links:
Petition - Implemet Fully "A Vision for Change"

"A Vision For Change" Budget not spent on Mental Health!

From my resaerch on the internet I came across this on the Schizophrenia Ireland Website. It turns out that the budget allocated to A Vision for Change was spent on other areas

Almost half of the budget allocated to the HSE in 2006 and 2007 to implement the mental health policy, A Vision for Change, has been spent on deficits in other areas, according to the Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC).

The HSE did set aside the €25 million each year, but then went ahead and spent it on other areas.

The HSE had the following excuse:

The balance of the funding from 2006 and 2007 was time delayed to address core deficits in existing Mental Health services

Bollocks says I. The money set aside was raided by the HSE to keep other things floating. Is that how earmarked money should be spent? This is an area that has suffered under investment for a long time and the HSE seams intent on ensuring it dosent get the investment.

I find my self completly agreeing with John Saunders, Chair of the IMHC

This situation is totally unacceptable. On the second anniversary of the plan it is clear it is floundering already due to a lack of Government commitment.

The Government has yet to set out an implementation plan two years into this programme.

Here are the IMHC recommendations:

• The HSE should finalise, adopt and publish an implementation plan for A Vision for Change as a matter of urgency. The plan should include explicit performance targets and indicators, timelines, and specific resource commitments across all recommendations in A Vision for Change

• The HSE should publish quarterly reports on progress in the implementation of A Vision for Change.

• The HSE should finalise the mental health catchment areas, and establish the mental health catchment area management teams.

• The Department of Health and Children and the HSE should publish an annual breakdown of capital and revenue spend (rather than allocation) in mental health, with spends on service expansions and improvements recommended in A Vision for Change clearly flagged.

• The provision of additional Child and Adolescent services and inpatient facilities must be implemented by the HSE in 2008.

The more I look into this the more annoyed I seam to get. Hopefully the Minister or Minister of State will respond later in the week.

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Links:
IMHC PR: Massive under - spend on mental health by HSE revealed
Petition - Implemet Fully "A Vision for Change"

Previous Posts:
Government set to abandon "A Vision for Change"
Last post, actions to follow up

Last post, actions to follow up

While writing my last post, I decided whats the point it just writing the post if I dont do anything about it. So what will I do.

1. Email both the Minister for Health and Children (Mary Harney TD) and Minister of State with responsibility for Disability and Mental Health (Dr. Jimmy Devins TD). When and if I get a response, I will post them.

2. Email my local TD's and Senators Cork South Central TDs: Micheál Martin FF, Michael McGrath FF, Deirdre Clune FG, Ciarán Lynch LAB and Simon Coveney FG. Senator Jerry Buttimer FG. Any other suggestions?

3. Write a petition. Done and its online here Please sign it.

I wonder which will get the quickest resposnes.

Stay tuned....

Government set to abandon "A Vision for Change"

Yet another example of Bertie and crew changing their tune. This time its on Mental health policy. I received this from the Fine Gael Spokesman on Mental Health, Dan Neville TD. It says and I quote

"This report (A Vision for Change) states explicitly that a minimum of an additional €25 million is required annually for a six-year period to allow implementation of the mental health service expansion and improvement objectives outlined in the policy.

"In 2006, €17 million and in 2007, €10 million was spent for this purpose. In 2008 no additional funding was allocated.

It is fairly obvious that the Government is not willing to fund the Vision for Change. This report by an expert group, was an excellent report when released in 2006 and if the Government had fully implemented it, Ireland's Mental Health Policy and institutions would be up with the best of them, but they are not.

To again quote Mr. Neville

In 2006, 3,000 children and adolescents waited an average of 15 months for psychiatric assessment with some families waiting as long as four years. In 2007, waiting lists were even longer with 3,598 children waiting for assessment, a third of whom waited for more than 12 months. With no money allocated for the implementation of 'A Vision of Change' in 2008, things are likely to get worse.

Clearly the Government is going blind on this issue. With waiting lists going up, it cannot afford to be putting childrens and adolescents psychiatry on the long finger. This is what they are doing. They are closing there eyes and hoping it will go away.

Children and adolescents should not be in adult wards like they currently are. The Government need to allocate the funding to this sector which badly needs it!

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Links:
A Vision For Change PDF
FG PR: Government abandons introduction of Mental Health Policy - Neville

Anti-Depressents: My Views and Experience

Yesterday one of the BBC's top stories was of a report from the University of Hull researchers the popular brands of Anti-depressents (Prozac and Seroxat, among the four studied) are no better then "dummy pills" or placebos.

Now in the past (until November 2007) I was taken an anti depressents for an associated condition (panic attacks). When I first went to my doctor I was but on Seroxat, which I personally hated. It allows feel nothing normally, and when you do feel something its extremes. I can often remember going for walks and going from extasticlly happy to crying, in the space of two minutes.

The listed side effects are as follows:

Common side effects of Seroxat may include suicidal thoughts, headaches, decreased sex drive, agitation, anxiety, nervousness, difficulty with ejaculation, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, upset stomach, appetite loss, insomnia, rash, sleepiness, and vomiting.

Source

I suffered from the following side-effects:
*headaches
*decreased sex drive
*agitation
*anxiety
*difficulty with ejaculation
*dizziness
*fatigue
*upset stomach
*appetite loss
*insomnia

Out of 16 side effects I got 10! I know not everyone gets the side effects but as someone who did they are not fun. Thankfully I have a good doctor and I went back to him after two weeks, and he changed my perscription to another SSRI. At the same time as this I was receiving (eventually) help from the HSE in the from of a Consultant Psychiatrist, with whom I have one more appointment with when I return to Ireland, and a Psychotherapist which was an excellent resource for me and helped a great deal. I also had peer support from friends, family and Schizophrenia Ireland's Basement Resource Centre in Cork. This to me was properly more important then the drug I was taking which the drug I was taking (which had similar side effects but which didnt affect me!)

There needs to be more education about depression and mental illness in Ireland. Nobody talks about it. Its taboo, hence this post. Unlike say in the US people think its normal that you got to a "shrink" or whatever, but here in Ireland its a common view that only 'wackos' etc need to go to one. The talking therapies can help everyone get through difficulties. Some days after my therapy I would feel as if a load was taken from my shoulders and I learned effective ways of controilling my anxiety.

In my expeirence of working in a Pharmacy, (April 07 - Dec 07) Irish doctors need to be better educated on SSRI's and other Anti-depressants. Some Docters perscribe without referral and I think that is wrong. If you a prescribed an anti-depressent you should be reffered for talking therapy also as this is the only way you can over come your problems.

The report, which led to me posting this, is avaible on Open Access from the PLOS Medicine wesbite. Initial Severity and Antidepressant Benefits: A Meta-Analysis of Data Submitted to the Food and Drug Administration
Kirsch1, Deacon, Huedo-Medina, Scoboria, Moore and Johnson

Morning Briefing, 5th March

Good Morning,I hope no one is suffering from ill effects of superstitions linked to lunar eclipses!!! (or still suffering from hangovers from the Irish Blog Awards or whatever they got up to at the weekend!!)

An Nuachtr ar an maidin seo!

Fine Gael are to introduce a bill into the Dáil this week to outlaw the sexual "grooming" of children on the Internet. (Breakingnews) This is well overdue having been on the order paper since 2004!

A new poll out today shows 68% of those surveyed would support a ban on hare coursing with 72% agreeing its a cruel practice (RTÉ). I am against hunting in Ireland, and actually spoke against it at my very first YFG Conference way back when.

A leading psychiatrist, Professor Patricia Casey, has branded Irish psychiatric services a 'third world country' (Irish Examiner). From my own experiences shes right. I have a appointment on Thursday in the CUH, and I will be waiting a long time to be seen!

The Cherokee Nation has voted out descendants of freed slaves from the Tribe. (CNN) This has led to accusations of racism. Well in my opinion, its not exactly fair like!

That's all for now!

Slán!

Morning Briefing, 21st February

Dia Duit!

Well between the Govt. delaying the Civil Union Bill 2006 and the Polish President making homophobic remarks in Ireland (RTÉ) I'm really pissed off!

The UK are to make an announcement on withdrawal of troops from Iraq (RTÉ) It is thought likely that Mr Blair will make any announcement in an oral statement to the House of Commons following his regular weekly appearance at Prime Minister's Questions. I hope he does pull 'em out

At 5:00pm this evening the Seanad will debate the Mental Capacity and Guardianship Bill 2007, please if you know a senator ask them to vote for it.

The Civil Unions Bill 2006 also goes to a vote this evening after the continuation of the debate at 7:00p, tonight.

Trocaire has launched an online neworking site called 'Just World'

Thats all i can find for now!

Slán

WHEN WILL OUR GOVERNMENT 'RETHINK' MENTAL HEALTH - YFG

Young Fine Gael (YFG) have today called on the Government to implement a proactive nationwide campaign modelled on the Northern Ireland 'Rethink' campaign addressing the stigma and taboo relating to mental illness, depression and suicide.

"Rethink, which is mainly Government funded, uses a TV advertisement with a high profile celebrity from Coronation Street ('Steve McDonald' / Simon Gregson) to show that mental health is an illness like any other and should not be stigmatised", according to YFG President, Elizabeth Munnelly.

"A high profile campaign here will encourage young people to seek help and advice. One in four Irish people will suffer some form of mental illness during their lifetime. Suicide accounts for 3 out of every 10 deaths in the 15-24 age group and is the most common cause of death in young males. In 2004 11,200 presented at A&E having deliberately self-harmed.

"Every 45 minutes another Irish person attempts suicide. Our Government needs to wake up and realise that young people's issues are not trivial but serious and need to be tackled urgently," said Munnelly.

Video Here

Its is an excellent campaign.

Posters and pictures of the campaign:

New service of Mental health Service Users!

Recntly Schizophrenia Ireland has moved its offices from Penrose Quay to 32 South Terrace, but whats really interesting is whats happening in the Basement of number 32.

Over the past few months a drop-in Resource Centre, called the Basement Resource Centre, has been set up on partnership model, with members and staff working together. It is an excellent service and I sometimes work reception.

Its is open 9:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday and Friday is in fact an open day for all those with an interest in mental health services in Cork!

List of services:

- Internet
- Creative Writing
- Arts and Crafts (Coming soon)
- Counselling

among others

Hanafin’s bluff won’t disguise educational psychological services mess – Enright

51% of primary schools still not covered by NEPS
When will target for educational psychologists - set in 1999 - be met?

Olwyn Enright TD, Fine Gael Spokesperson on Education and Science has today (Thursday) said that Minister Mary Hanafin cannot bluff her way out of the current mess surrounding access to educational psychological services for children and young people.

'Speaking on RTE Morning Ireland today, Minister Mary Hanafin stated that Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats are constantly expanding the services offered by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS). In many homes, this statement will have been greeted with a hollow laugh.

'Between February 2005 and December 2006, the number of primary schools without access to the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) increased by 160. Information released to me by the Department of Education and Science confirms that whilst 1,522 primary schools were not covered by NEPS in February 2005, this figure was up to 1,682 schools last month.

'In her latest damage limitation exercise, the Minister has also announced the recruitment this year of an additional 31 educational psychologists. This means that by 2008 the target of 184 educational psychologists needed by NEPS - which was set in 1999 and should have been met by 2004 - will still be little more than a 'noble aspiration', an increasingly apt phrase when looking at this Government's record in education.

'With considerable understatement, Minister Hanafin did concede that not every school in the country was covered by NEPS - well, that's one way of acknowledging that 51% of primary schools are still outside the system, eights years after it was first established.

'Minister Hanafin is still just playing 'catch-up' on this issue, and has not even begun to consider the demands that are coming down the track for Ireland's education system. Department of Education figures show that the number of children in primary education will increase by at least 58,000, but where is the planning now to ensure that these children will have access to a proper, working service by the time they are in the system?

'Minister Hanafin also referred - repeatedly - to the scheme for commissioning private psychological assessments which is available to schools. She did not acknowledge, though she knows full well, that many schools have far more students who require assessment than they are allowed to commission privately. The scheme for commissioning private assessments is in no way an alternative to the full roll out of NEPS services.

'Finally, Minister Hanafin seemed to suggest that the St Vincent de Paul charity were in some way misguided in spending their money commissioning psychological assessments for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The St Vincent de Paul can certainly speak for themselves, but given the facts - the appalling access to the service, the considerable regional imbalances in access to NEPS, and the restrictions on the number of private assessments that can be commissioned - I believe that the Minister is on thin ice here as well.'

Scandal that children rely on charity, not Govt, for psychological assessment - Enright

Additional allocation of €5 million for 2007 could have provided NEPS service to all schoolsFine Gael Education and Science Spokesperson Olwyn Enright TD has today (Wednesday) described the revelation that a charity has been forced to fund more than 1,000 psychological assessments for children in need as a new low for this Government.

'Today's report that the St Vincent de Paul charity has funded psychological assessments for more than 1,000 children and young people is the latest indication of the flawed commitment of this Government to the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), and a new low for Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats.

'One of the key duties of Minister Mary Hanafin is to ensure that children with specific educational needs or difficulties, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, are able to reach their potential within the education system. This is a duty that she has shirked since assuming office, and the consequences for children will be serious and long-felt.

'When NEPS was established in 1999, a target of 184 psychologists working within the service was set. This target was supposed to have been met by 2004, when all schools were supposed to have access to NEPS. However, the Government is still short of this target by more than 50 posts. In actual fact, figures released to me in late 2006 showed that the number of primary schools covered by the service is actually in decline.

'Between February 2005 and December 2006 the number of primary schools without access to NEPS has risen by 160. These schools have dropped off the NEPS radar due to the failure of this Government to live up to a promise made eight years ago. Today, 51% of primary schools in the State are not covered by NEPS.

'An additional allocation of €5 million for 2007, on top of the amount set aside in the estimates last November, would have allowed for all schools to be covered by the NEPS service. The revelation that charitable organisations are now picking up the slack for this Government by commissioning and paying for private psychological assessments shows that this additional allocation should have been made.

'This funding is needed now, as access to the psychological services provided by NEPS is vital for children and young people with special educational needs. Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats should be ashamed to rely on charities to provide services to those who need them, and who are entitled to assistance from the State.'


This is typical of the FF/PD government, setting up programs with great fan fare and then underfunding them! When will they cop on. These are the most vulnerable of the vulnerable, and they deserve all the hlep they can get. Thankfully in Ireland we have great charities live the SdVP who step in to fill the gap left by the government.

Come no Hanafin show your potential, and people say she will be the next leader of FF.

Morning Briefing, December 21st

Well, im in a festive spirit today! Im cuurently wearing my santa hat (with added plats) and red flashing nose. The bus driver of the number 14 did better than me though this morining dressed in a full santa suit!!!

BreakingNews.ie reports on crticisim for Transport 21 from the ERSI and Fine Gael.

It also reports that traditional psychiatric hospitals will be closed by 2010.

BreakingNews also reports that election results in Iran have been won by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's opponents.

France 24 reports on the death of Turkmenistein's President, Saparmurat Niyazov.

CNN reports on uproar in Italy over a 'gay navity, scene.

RTÉ reports that the General Election will be a summer election after comments by Bertie Ahern.

Merry Christmas! as im not sure if ill be onlinbe over the next few days!!

Happy Christmas & a prosperous new year

Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit.

IMO: Extra resources for mental health not enough

The Irish Medical Organisation says the €25m allocated to mental-health services in yesterday's Budget doesn't go far enough.

The organisation is welcoming the extra money, but says it won't make a huge difference to waiting lists.

Almost €8m has been specifically designated for the development of child and adolescent services, but the IMO says around €50m is needed to fully improve that service alone.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health says he is not happy with delays in treatment services for children.

Tim O'Malley was responding today to further questions arising out of last Monday night's TV documentary on services for children with psychiatric problems.

He confirmed that he had been in contact with one of the families involved in the documentary and was trying to get services for them.

"I'm not satisfied and nobody could be satisfied with the inordinate delays and bureaucracy that they've had to go through," he said.

Source: BreakingNews.ie

Mental health provision of €25m ‘a mere sop’

THE provision of an estimated €25 million in mental health spending was described as inadequate and “a mere sop” by the Psychiatric Nurses’ Organisation. Spokesman Seamus Murphy expressed his disappointment with the gesture by Finance Minister Brian Cowen.

There were also uncertainties about where the money would be spent and if the €25m mentioned in yesterday’s Budget was additional to the €21m provided in the estimates for 2007.

Mr Murphy said he posed that question because €25m alone would be far from adequate to restore proper supports and services.

He said that €46m would also fall far short of a realistic spend on mental health.

The mental health budget had dwindled from 11% of the overall health budget in the 1990s to about 7% today.

In an European context the scenario was even more sobering. “Ireland has one of the lowest levels of spending on mental health than most other European countries,” he said.

European average spend was 13% of overall health budgets and Ireland trailed well behind that, he said.

Yesterday, the minister promised the provision of additional community-based mental health facilities, including mental health day centres, day hospitals and community residential facilities.

The Budget also made reference to the proposed appointment of extra front-line staff to enhance the level and range of multi-disciplinary support services available to adults and children with mental illness “in order to support the continued implementation of A Vision for Change”.

Additional funding would be made available to support the continued implementation of Reach Out National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005-2014, the minister said.

These measures will cost an estimated €25m in 2007, according to the minister.

Source: BudgetForum.com

Irish people more likely to seek psychological help - EU report

Irish people are more likely than any other EU population to seek help from a doctor for psychological or emotional health problems, according to figures released today.

Every year, one in four European adults are affected by mental health problems, according to the latest Euro-barometer report on the state of mental well-being across the EU.

91% of Irish respondents said they had sought help for a psychological or emotional problem over the past 12 months - more than in any other country surveyed.

Irish people also topped the poll when it came to the percentage who said pain does not interfere with their physical activities.

82% of Irish people said they felt happy all or most of the time, but only 67% said they felt calm and peaceful - that's just above the EU average of 63%, and well below the Finns at 83%.

Source: Breakingnews.ie

Thats surprising. I thought we Irish were uptight about our mental health but im glad we're not. I hope the Government corresponds and puts enough money into mental health services now.

O’Malley Must Go - Kenny

Enda Kenny told the Dáil (today) that he has no confidence in the Minister of State, Tim O'Malley, following the latter's comments on last night's Prime Time Investigates. He went on to call for the Taoiseach to seek Minister O'Malley's resignation over his handling of the services to patients with psychiatric illness and his grossly insensitive comments last night relating to waiting lists for such patients.

'Mental illness is devastating. It can tear families apart. That is why Fine Gael and Labour selected this issue as the first in a series of joint policy launches on the 5th of September this year. (See link to statement http://www.finegael.ie/news/index.cfm/type/details/nkey/29102/pkey/653/)

'Minister O'Malley's comments prove that he has no connection with those families. No warmth, no empathy, no understanding. He has had 4 ½ years to deliver services for the people that need them and he has failed to do so. Therefore, he is totally unsuited to the job. That is why the Taoiseach should seek his resignation.

'Mental illness is a private illness with very public consequences. When people's lives are collapsing around them, after ten years of FF and the PDs, they find they have no-one to turn to, nowhere to go. The Government has not addressed this crisis in ten years of record revenue. What makes anyone think they will do it in 15?

'The Minister is blaming everyone except himself. He is the Minister. The buck stops with him. Evading responsibility is now second nature to this dysfunctional Government. They have had nearly ten years in charge now. Six years ago the First Report of the Working Group on Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services, set up by Minister Martin when he was Minister, said;

'It is recommended that a total of seven child and adolescent inpatient units for children ranging 6-16 should be developed throughout the country'

'Six years on and this commitment hasn't been delivered. Minister O'Malley has been in office for 4 ½ years of those 6 years and has clearly failed to deliver. This is in a period when the Government had booming tax revenues - €8,000 million more collected than expected in the last three years alone - and managed to throw money away on dud projects like PPARS, e-voting and the Bertie Bowl.

'Today there are 3,000 children waiting for psychiatric assessments with just 13 beds available to cater for their needs. In some cases these children are waiting for four and half years for an assessment - joining the waiting list at the time that Minister O'Malley took office. The HSE has clearly not substantiated Minister O'Malley's remarks about waiting lists and have left him isolated, save for the support of the Taoiseach who thinks Minister O'Malley is doing his best.

'Unfortunately, for patients with psychiatric illness Minister O'Malley clearly has no grasp or understanding of their circumstances. He may be doing his best, but his best falls miles short of what this under resourced and under appreciated sector needs. That is why he must go.'

Mentally ill children suffering from long-term Govt under funding – Neville

Fine Gael Deputy Health Spokesperson, Dan Neville TD, has said that the dismal response of the current Government to severely sub-standard child and adolescent psychiatric services, despite its unprecedented wealth, amounted to wholesale neglect. Deputy Neville added that unacceptably long waiting lists and the lack of in-patient places for young people, highlighted by the Prime Time programme, had tragically been evident for years.

'Last night's Prime Time programme starkly revealed the human suffering of those children and parents abandoned by Ireland's under-resourced psychiatric services. A deeply saddening exposé, it was unfortunately not surprising to those of us who have been working on mental health issues for some time.

'The fact is that child and adolescent psychiatric services account for only 5-10% of spending on mental health services, while serving 22.68% of the population. This under-investment has resulted, as we saw last night, in child and adolescent services which are either sporadic or non-existent.

'This situation has been allowed to develop despite the fact that in excess of 200,000 children have a mental or behavioural problem at any one time. The infrastructure is not in place to meet these needs and the lack of specialised services for young people has led to unacceptable long waiting lists and the admission of children into adult services.

'Hearing the personal stories of those young people last night who endured inappropriate accommodation in adult units was a gruelling experience and absolutely surreal in the context of 21st Century Celtic Tiger Ireland. It is absolutely galling to read that the current Government has taken in €8 billion more in taxes than expected in their own estimates and yet the State is still abandoning the most vulnerable of our citizens.

'Fine Gael, along with our colleagues in the Labour party, has committed to increasing specialist out-patient teams for child and adolescent services by 50% and to bringing the established teams up to the recommended staffing complement. In our first year of Government we will devote €16 million to child and adolescent services and we have committed to an €80 million programme over 5 years to increase in-patient facilities and achieve the target of comprehensive, fully staffed services for the specific needs of ADHD/hyperkinetic disorder and conduct disorder.

'In light of the very personal pain revealed in the Prime Time programme, the suffering of the children involved and the agony of parents whose children are either psychologically or physically being lost to them, the response of the Minister in charge of mental health services was deeply disappointing. Instead of casting about for scapegoats and calling for reviews when it's too late, the Minister should be apologising to those families who have been unable to find help despite their desperate need. Furthermore he should focus on completing those developments which are already underway as quickly as possible as well as following through on long-promised commitments.'

Neville highlights World Mental Health Day saying Govt denying human rights of Irish patients

Fine Gael and Labour plan commits significant resources to community mental health teams, suicide prevention and child psychiatric services

Ireland must respect the human rights of people with mental illness and provide the necessary resources to do so, according to Dan Neville TD, Fine Gael Deputy Spokesman on Health & Children and President of the Irish Association of Suicidology. Speaking in relation to World Mental Health Day today (Tuesday), Deputy Neville said that the current Government was continuing to under fund the psychiatric services and that a Fine Gael/Labour Government was committed to directing significant additional resources at mental health services.

“The Government has failed to respect the human rights of people with mental illness. It oversees a psychiatric service which is out of step with international best practice and, as such, fails to comply with international human rights law. In doing so it falls far short of full respect for the human rights of people with mental illness

“The stigma attached to mental illness within all sections of Irish society allows the long-overdue reform of the mental health services to be ignored. The Government is hiding behind this stigma in its inaction in developing the psychiatric services.

“The Minister for Finance in his first Budget continued his predecessor’s policy in not recognising the urgent need restore the level of revenue for the psychiatric services to the level of 1997, at 11% of the total Health Budget. Since that time the revenue has been reduced to 7% of the overall budget. In 1960 20% of the health budget was granted to the psychiatric services but now the percentage or overall resources directed at this important area reflects a deeply worrying lack of commitment.

“The resources which were freed up by the reduction of in-patient psychiatric beds were not transferred to building up psychiatric facilities in the community. There is an urgent need to establish multi-disciplined community based psychiatric services. The Health Minister must recognise this and immediately introduce a comprehensive programme of investment in such services.

“Fine Gael and the Labour Party, in our recently published joint policy, Reaching Recovery, have committed an extra €251m over five years in order to put in place multidisciplinary community mental health teams; substantially increase the budget of the National Office for Suicide Prevention; and increase specialist and outpatient teams dealing with child and adolescent psychiatric services by 50%.”

The Fine Gael/Labour document, Reaching Recovery, can be viewed at www.finegael.ie and www.labour.ie

One in five sufferers die from eating disorders, urgent action needed - Neville

Fine Gael Deputy Spokesman on Health and Children, Dan Neville TD, has today (Sunday) called on the Minister for Health to recognise that eating disorders are serious psychiatric illnesses with a 20% mortality rate and to implement a number of measures across a variety of areas to address these major problems.

“Eating disorders have the highest psychiatric mortality rate of any psychiatric condition. This fact was contained in The Expert Group on Mental Health Policy’s report ‘Speaking Your Mind’ and it is profoundly disappointing to say the least that the Government has completely neglected this area.

“Eating disorders are not self-inflicted. They are complex disorders that have no one cause or cure. Addressing the problem involves coordinated efforts from school education programmes, public awareness and health promotion activities, professional training for health professionals and access to service provision at community, primary and inpatient level.

“The figures surrounding eating disorders are profoundly worrying. Some 1% to 2% of young females are affected by anorexia while 3% to 5% are affected by bulimia. It is estimated that 10% of new eating disorder cases are male. A recent community survey indicated an increase in the number of people engaging in inappropriate weight management behaviours that can lead to eating disorders such as laxative abuse and forced vomiting. People with eating disorders can and do recover with 60% making a full recovery.

“Early intervention is the key to recovery. The Health Minister should immediately introduce training on the management of eating disorders in each of the former Health Board Areas. A dedicated service should be delivered through outpatient, and where necessary, in-patient care. There is a need for a person in each health board area who will have a special interest post in psychiatry dealing with eating disorders.

“The educational system needs to be utilised with a focus on greater self-esteem building work and development of coping skills. Messages on proper and healthy eating need to be addressed, and not get lost in the midst of more recent discussions on obesity.

“At present there is no specific public service for the management of eating disorder cases. Young people with eating disorders are admitted to medical wards, usually under gastroenterology, where staff are not trained or supported to treat them. The average stay is two and a half months during which time they require significant input from general nursing staff working on a busy medical ward. Given that the average age for the onset of an eating disorder varies form 14 for anorexia to 17 for bulimia, the paucity of child and adolescent services results in many young people going untreated and many others remaining undiagnosed.

“There are proven benefits to a separate system of youth psychiatry that provides interventions tailored to the unique needs and developmental stages of young people. Investing in the mental health of children and adolescents represents the most cost-effective method to prevent the continuous increase of mental health problems in all age groups. Despite this, none of the three public child and adolescent services in Ireland has the appropriate range and number of staff.”