July 2, 2010
Mental Illness
Most men 'too embarrassed to talk about depression'
Irish Times (Tue, 29 June 2010)
Condition viewed as a state of mind rather than a medical condition, new research finds
Two of men are embarrassed to talk about depression and a quarter view it as a state of mind rather than a medical condition, new research suggests.
Finding a better way to treat mental illness
Irish Farmers Journal Irish Country Living (Sat, 3 July 2010)
Finding a better way to treat mental illness Cork woman Joan Hamilton dreams that an 80-120 acre farm will become a therapeutic living environment for people with mental illness and help them "recover their lives". Margaret Hawkins finds out about the launch of the Sli Eile Farm Fund and why actor Jeremy Irons believes it's a worthy project.
HSE ordered to pay senior nurses up to €200,000
Irish Examiner (Thu, 1 July 2010)
The Rights Commissioner has ordered the HSE to pay up to €200,000 to senior nurses from whom it withheld performance-related pay which was due to them two years ago. According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, and the Psychiatric Nurses Association, which brought the case before the commissioners, 28 directors of nursing (band 1), directors of mental health and directors of public health nursing should have received the payments in 2008.
Mental Health Service
Key to prison mental healthcare
Irish Medical Times (Fri, 2 July 2010)
With the number of prisoners in the State exceeding 5,000 for the first time, Dara Gantly looks back at an award-winning project aimed at keeping those with serious mental illness out of prison.
HSE 'failures' on mental health criticised
Irish Times (Fri, 2 July 2010)
Little substantial progress has been made on the Government’s plan for improvement in mental health services, an independent monitoring group has found. The group said there was “an urgent need” for Government and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to renew their commitment to the full implementation of A Vision for Change (AVFC), the Government’s plan for the mental health service in Ireland, published four years ago.
Group warned not to cut mental health funding
Irish Examiner (Thu, 1 July 2010)
A CROSS-PARTY Oireachtas group on mental health has been told there must be no funding cuts to mental health services as the recession increases the number of people committing suicide. The group met following confirmation on Tuesday that the number of reported suicides for 2009 was 527, 24% higher than the previous year. A number of experts in the area said the true figure for 2009 was almost certainly much higher due to non-reporting of suicide.
Kids treated for anorexia as crisis deepens
Evening Echo (Wed, 30 June 2010)
Kids treated for anorexia as crisis deepens In the final part of our three-part series on eating disorders, Evening Echo Health Correspondent EDEL O'CONNELL talks to a child psychiatrist who says that 10% of all anorexia now occurs under the age of 10, underlying the urgent need for a national eating disorder service. She also talks to a Cork student who developed bulimia at just 12 years of age.
Suicide Prevention
Help is at hand as suicide rate 'four times higher' for vets
Irish Independent (Fri, 2 July 2010)
It may seem like an idyllic life in the countryside, evoking images of James Herriot and 'All Creatures Great and Small'.But the suicide rate among vets is four times higher than that of the general population. The stark statistic was revealed yesterday as a new assistance programme was launched aimed at improving mental health among vets and providing them with a crisis response system at times of extreme stress.
Increase in children contemplating suicide
Irish Examiner (Thu, 1 July 2010)
AN organisation working to prevent suicide and self harm is concerned at the increasing number of children who see suicide as a viable option during the economic downturn. Chief executive of Pieta House, Joan Freeman, said those at the coal face of dealing with individuals and their families in crisis had noticed a definite increase in the number of young people with suicidal thoughts.
Recession blamed for 25% surge in suicides
Irish Examiner (Wed, 30 June 2010)
CSO figures confirm 527 people took their own lives last year . Spiralling debt, marriage breakdown and depression caused by the recession are being blamed for the alarming 25% rise in the number of recorded suicides. Just, weeks after the head the National Office for Suicide Prevention Geoff Day warned an annual figure of more than 500 deaths would be a "national disaster", the Central Statistics Office confirmed the 2009 total was 527, up from 424 the previous year.
Shock ruling opens door to allow assisted suicide for ill
Irish Independent (Sat, 26 June 2010)
A lawyer's manslaughter conviction is overturned based on 'prior request'. Germany’s top criminal court yesterday opened the way to assisted suicide in cases where it is carried out based on a patient's prior request. The hugely controversial ruling
came as the court overturned the conviction of a lawyer who had counselled his client in 2007 to stop tube-feeding her mother, who had been in a non-responsive coma for five
New initiative by Waterford Marine Search & Rescue
Waterford Today (Wed, 30 June 2010)
Waterford Marine Search & Rescue have teamed up with Waterford Samaritans to launch a new initiative to provide new life saving equipment along the banks of the River Suir in Waterford City. In an effort to reduce the incidence of drowning and dissuade people from trying to take their own lives at the river, life buoy housing units will carry the SAMARITANS logo and its 24 hour telephone number.
