July 3, 2009
Mental Health Service
Call for new inquiry into psychiatric care
Irish Times (Fri, 3 July 2009)
Families say their relatives were mistreated in the mental health system have urged the Government to establish an independent inquiry into care standards across a number of psychiatric services.
New mental hospital will not be built at Thornton Hall
Irish Times (Thu, 2 July 2009)
A NEW central mental hospital will not now be built at the Thornton Hall prison site in north Dublin, Minister of State for Health John Moloney confirmed.
Lives will be saved if HSE complies with jury
Irish Examiner (Tue, 30 June 2009)
The mother of 19-year old Ennis girl who died after walking out of a psychiatric unit has said that a jury's recommendation, if implemented on psychiatric patients absconding from acute units, will save lives.
Mental hospital closed to admissions
Irish Examiner (Tue, 30 June 2009)
The Central Mental Hospital (CMH) will be closed to new admissions until the end of the summer at the earliest and even then will only take in new patients as others leave.
Revamped mental health clinic now 'better than Priory'
Irish Independent (Tue, 30 June 2009)
A newly revamped Irish addiction and mental health centre may rival or even surpass services at the famous Priory treatment clinic favoured by celebrities in the UK.
Siptu says Central Mental Hospital has 'closed its doors' due to staff shortages
Irish Times (Sat, 27 June 2009)
Staff at the Central Mental Hospital has warned that the hospital has “closed its doors” to new admissions and is now unable to respond to any new patients with serious mental health problems.
Suicide Prevention
Call for action after five Irish people die at Swiss euthanasia clinic
Irish Examiner (Fri, 3 July 2009)
Five Irish people have died at a Swiss euthanasia clinic, it has emerged. A further 29 Irish people made inquiries about assist ed deaths at the Dignitas clinic near Zurich. The release of data by the company has led to calls for the Government to take action to help persuade people from going abroad to avail of assisted suicide.
Suicide awareness drop-in centre to open
Wexford People (Wed, 1 July 2009)
A 24-hour drop-in centre for suicide awareness and prevention is set to open in Wexford town. The first facility of its kind in the county, a 24-hour helpline will be operated in tandem with the drop-in centre, which will be based on Francis Street, opposite the Friary.
Depression
Study: First-bom children face more pressure than siblings
Irish Examiner (Tue, 30 June 2009)
First-born children face twice as much pressure to succeed in school than their younger brothers and sisters, research suggests. But high parental expectations come at a cost, with many mothers saying they believe their eldest child will be the most susceptible to anxiety or depression later in life.
Mental Illness
Schizophrenia and manic depression linked
Evening Herald (Thu, 2 July 2009)
Scientists have discovered a similarity between the genetic faults behind schizophrenia and manic depression. The breakthrough is expect- ed to open the way to new treatments for two of the most common mental illnesses.
Early treatment always best
Irish Medical Times (Fri, 26 June 2009)
The slogan for Men’s Health Week — ‘don’t wait until it’s too late’ — applies as much to mental health as it does to physical wellbeing, the College of Psychiatry of Ireland has stressed.
