July 10, 2009
Mental Health
Annie's Ball to help promote mental health among young
Connacht Sentinel (Tue, 7 July 2009)
The launch of Annie's Ball in aid of the Positive Mental Health Foundation took place in the Galway Bay Hotel on Thursday evening. Positive Mental Health is a Galway-based charity group which aims to address mental health issues in young people by running workshops in schools which, encourage young people to communicate more openly about their feelings and the issues which affect them.
City Council puts mental health on the agenda
Cork Independent (Thu, 2 July 2009)
Cork City Council has pledged to prioritise mental health after more than 200 people signed up to an Amnesty International action. At the most recent meeting of the local authority, newly elected Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dara Murphy put forward a motion recognising the importance of making mental health a political priority both locally and nationally which was passed by councillors.
Mental Illness
Inside young minds
Irish Times (Tue, 7 July 2009)
A study into children with schizophrenia is giving insights into how it affects the brain, writes SHARI ROAN .
People now more open about their depression
Irish Times (Tue, 7 July 2009)
People suffering from depression have become much more open about their condition, according to a new survey. Six out of 10 people who have personally experienced depression tell friends or family members about their problem compared with one in 10 people last year, according to the Lundbeck Mental Health Barometer, launched today.
Mental Health Service
Children in need continue to play the waiting game
Irish Independent (Mon, 6 July 2009)
Children in need of psychiatric care continue to be poorly served by our health service, despite the fact that the problem has been repeatedly highlighted. The most up-to-date figures for the numbers of children on waiting lists to see a psychiatrist showed 2,000 faced delays of up to three years. Of these, over 1,500 were waiting for a routine assessment, the Mental Health Commission's census for 2008 found. It said the majority of children deemed emergencies are seen immediately and priority cases are examined within a year.
Protecting our children
Clare Champion (Fri, 3 July 2009)
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children this week heard a heartfelt plea from the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on the need for the Government to establish a nationwide 24-hour child protection and welfare service as a matter of absolute priority.
HSE rejects claim that mental health service being downgraded
Nationalist & Munster Advertiser (Thu, 2 July 2009)
The HSE has strongly denied a claim by the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland that one of two specialist counsellors who provide a service to those with a dual diagnosis of addiction and mental health problems won't be replaced, following a recent retirement.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide group set to open office in Meath
Weekender (Sat, 11 July 2009)
SOSAD IRELAND is to open a counseling and support office within weeks after the charity recently secured premises in Navan. The announcement follows the official launch of the suicide awareness group in the county three months ago and marks a further development in the provision of services for those bereaved by suicide.
