June 3, 2011
Mental Health
Fears that Dáil rule fuels mental health stigma
Medical Independent (Thursday, 02 June 2011)
A clause in the 1992 Electoral Act, banning "a person of un-sound mind" from being elected to the Dail is out dated, discriminatory and should be removed, a leading mental health advocate has said. Responding to the issue raised by the Medical Independent, Mr John Saunders, Chair of See Change, Ireland's national programme to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness, called for the Act to be amended and the PUM reference to be re-moved.
Mental Health Service
Mentally ill suffer from 'stigma' of being committed by gardai
Irish Independent (Friday, 03 June 2011)
Growing numbers of mentally ill patients are experiencing stigma after being com- mitted to a psychiatric hospital by Gardaí. The problem was highlighted in the annual report of the Mental Health Commission which said patients who are detained against their will should be in the care of specially trained nurses.
Major staff shortages hit mentally ill patients
Irish Times (Friday, 03 June 2011)
Mental health services are experiencing major staff shortages due to the moratorium on public sector recruitment, the Mental Health Commission has warned. These shortages are undermining efforts to reform how people with mental health illnesses are treated, just as demand for services is increasing due to the economic recession, says the commission’s 2010 annual report.
Mental health sufferers struggle to access rights
Irish Examiner (Wednesday, 01 June 2011)
People with mental health problems face difficulties accessing their rights to education, work, suitable housing and welfare, a panel of national and international human rights experts has heard. Organised by Amnesty International Ireland and chaired by former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Paul Hunt, the panel heard 100 people with personal and professional experience of the issues speak about the barriers people with mental health problems can face.
Lynch to visit psychiatric unit earmarked for closure
Irish Examiner (Monday, 30 May 2011)
Mental Health Services Minister Kathleen Lynch is to visit "in the coming weeks" a psychiatric unit earmarked for closure by the HSE, amid mounting opposition from doctors. The HSE confirmed that the 49-bed St Michaels Acute Mental Health Unit in Clonmel will not be shut this week, as had been feared.
Growing fears that axe will fall next week at St Michael's
The Premier People, Page 3, 24-May-2011
Fears are growing that the axe will fall next week on St Michael's acute psychiatric unit at South Tipperary General Hospital. Next Tuesday, May 31, is the deadline for the renewal of the unit's registration by the Mental Health Commission. There are deep concerns that, if registration is not renewed, the final countdown will begin for the threatened 49-bed unit.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide research body funds run out
Irish Examiner (Wednesday, 01 June 2011)
The work of a vital and internationally recognised suicide research project has ceased as its HSE funding has run out. The Suicide Support and Information System, run by the National Suicide Research Foundation in Cork, assessed undetermined deaths in a coroner's court and assisted bereaved families. Money for what started as a pilot project ran out in February after almost three years' work.
OSPI’s network of supports
Limerick Post (Tuesday, 31 May 2011)
A national campaign to raise awareness of depression, how to support and treat it, and the prevention of suicide is running until Sunday June 12. Optimising Suicide Prevention Programmes and their Implementation (OSPI) was created in response to high rates of deliberate self-harm and suicide, increasing since 2007. The National Suicide Research Foundation is co-ordinating these programmes, running workshops to help health and social professionals recognise depression and be more aware of its various treatments.
