March 16, 2011
Eating Disorders
Pageant princesses 'could face mental health issues'
The Cork News (Tuesday, 08 March 2011)
Consultant psychologist Gillian Moore-Groarke said youngsters who take part in Ireland's first-ever child beauty competition face a greater risk of mental health problems because they are being thrust upon an "unnatural stage". She expressed her concern that young girls who compete in the controversial child beauty contest would be more prone to eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia.
Mental Health
Badly paid jobs can be worse for mental health than no job at all
Irish Times (Tuesday, 15 March 2011)
Having a poor quality or poorly paid job can be worse for one’s mental health than having no job at all, new research has found. A study of more than 7,000 people of working age in Australia assessed respondents’ mental health and asked them about their employment status.
Norris pledges to 'shine a light' on mental health if elected president
Irish Examiner (Tuesday, 15 March 2011)
Independent Senator David Norris has pledged to "shine a light" on mental health issues as President and he would seek to promote mental health and help families torn apart by depression, substance abuse and suicide.
Influential former CEO of Mental Health Commission to join Mad Pride Ireland
Cork Independent (Thursday, 10 March 2011)
The founder of Mad Pride Ireland, John McCarthy, this week announced that Hugh Kane, former CEO of the Mental Health Commission is set to team up with the influential Cork based movement as a special advisor. This is a significant boost for the Cork-based mental health group.
Mental Health Service
No consent given for 12pc of electric shock therapy
Irish Independent (Wednesday, 16 March 2011)
Almost one in eight patients who were given electric shock treatment over the course of a year were either unable or unwilling to give consent to the controversial procedure. A higher number of women (62.5pc) than men were given the electroconvulsive treatment without consent, the 2009 monitoring report from the Mental Health Commission watchdog revealed.
HSE seeks to continue to treat mentally ill patient
Irish Times (Wednesday, 16 March 2011)
The High Court has been asked to decide if the HSE is legally entitled to continue to administer certain medical treatment to a female patient detained at a psychiatric hospital. The action has been described as an important test case involving the court being asked for the first time to review the substance of a clinical intervention.
Enda-here's another five-point plan for you
Irish Independent (Monday, 14 March 2011)
In the closing minutes of the final election debate Enda Kenny said: "I feel the priority should be the 300,000 people who suffer from mental illness and the 75,000 people who attempt self-harm and those who have the tragedy of suicide visit their families." Never before had a party leader so decisively expressed his commitment to improving the lot of the mentally ill. He has now gone on to incorporate this commitment into the Programme for Government. This is an enormous, welcome step for-ward for those working in these services and for the thousands using them.
Most recommendations in place at Cappahard
Clare Champion (Friday, 11 March 2011)
Most of the recommendations arising out of two reviews of the care provided at an Ennis mental health facility have been implemented, according to the Health Service Executive. The HSE has declined to give an individual breakdown of the recommendations that have been introduced at Cappahard Lodge in response to a request from Mid-West mental health lobby group.
Mental hospital inspectors call for closure of several units
Irish Times (Saturday, 12 March 2011)
Inspection reports on mental hospitals have called for the closure of some units, while finding overmedication and poor cleaning standards in others. The Central Mental Hospital in Dublin was among 23 locations covered by the reports released yesterday by the Mental Health Commission, the independent statutory body. The extent of dirt in two units of the 93-bed Central Mental Hospital was described as “inexcusable”.
Music therapy absence in mental health service
Clare Champion (Friday, 11 March 2011)
The lack of official recognition for music therapy in Ireland's mental health service was discussed by a panel of experts at the University of Limerick's Irish World Academy on Wednesday.
In spite of international evidence that shows the value of creative art therapies, particularly for people with schizophrenia, Ireland remains the only English-speaking country that does not recognise music therapy.
Tallaght one of only seven areas nationwide to be chosen as part of community mental health project
Echo – Tallaght (Thursday, 10 March 2011)
Talking openly about mental health is the thinking behind a series of community trialogue meetings which started in Tallaght this week. Facilitated by the Mental Health Tri
alogue Network in DCU, trialogue meetings provide communities with the opportunity to develop their understanding of mental health issues, the challenges of maintaining mental health alongside the opportunity to contribute to the creation of better services.
Mental Illness
Roscommon to feature in documentary on depression
Roscommon People (Friday, 11 March 2011)
'Living with Depression; a new three-part documentary series on TVS, will take an honest and realistic look at depression and will feature the efforts of Roscommon's Lions and Leo Club to increase suicide awareness. Through the experiences of ordinary men and women, Ray d'Arcy will aim to normalise and de-mystify depression.
