February 13, 2009
Mental Illness
Impact of drugs greater on mentally ill
Irish Health (Sun, 8 Feb 2009)
Narcotics have an irreversible effect on the brains of people already suffering from mental illness, new research has indicated. According to the Canadian researchers, some 33 to 50% of psychiatric patients also suffer from drug addiction. The study has shown that people suffering from mental illness such as schizophrenia are more sensitive to the effects of drugs.
Mental Health Service
Patients kept in custody due to loophole
Irish Examiner (Tue, 10 Feb 2009)
Families of patients at the Central Mental Hospital have written to the Minister for Justice demanding to know when laws will be amended that will allow the discharge of 12 patients from the hospital.
Decision by hospital to send woman to Mountjoy criticised by judge
Mullingar Advertiser (Fri, 6 Feb 2009)
The decision by a consultant psychiatrist at St Loman's hospital to discharge a patient and recommend that she be sent to Mountjoy Prison has been criticised in Mullingar District Court by Judge John Neilan. There was an extra sitting of the court convened last Friday, January 30 to hear the case which initially came before the judge at a special late-night sitting at 10.30pm on Saturday January 24. He described what had happened that weekend as "a damning indictment of the consultants".
HSE stresses need for "fundamenta reorganisation" of service delivery
Northern Standard (Thu, 5 Feb 2009)
Commenting on last week's confirmation that the St Davnet's Hospital site in Monaghan is to be sold in the coming years, and Junior Health Minister John Maloney's assurances that all monies raised would go towards the further development of mental health services, the HSE has issued a statement emphasising its intention to provide a more "patient centered" service, with the focus on treatment in the home and community and less reliance on hospital admissions.
Mental Health
Changing role in society takes its toll on middle aged women
Irish Independent Health & Living (Mon, 9 Feb 2009)
A report just published in Britain by the NHS shows that, for the first time, middle- aged women are now the age group most likely to suffer from mental illness. In addition, theirs is the demographic in which the risk of mental disorder has increased the most since the last report of this kind, in 1993. These new figures show that one-in-four women between the ages of 45 and 64 experience some sort of mental disorder.
Suicide Prevention
Lifeboat crews witness marked rise in suicides
Irish Examiner (Mon, 9 Feb 2009)
Lifeboat crews have witnessed a "marked increase" in the number of suicide and self-harm cases in the past six months. Commenting after the latest Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) annual statistics -were released, lifeboat representative Gareth Morrison said the number of body recovery cases 'coastline crews have been called out to since Au gust rose dramatically in the second half of 2008, correlating with the downturn in the economy.
Link between antidepressants and child suicide
Evening Herald (Mon, 9 Feb 2009)
A warning about the link between antidepressants and suicide among children and young adults is to be upgraded by the Irish Medicines Board. The decision has been prompted by a major review of clinical trials in both Europe and the US which have rein- forced previous findings that widely used antidepressants can double the risk of suicidal behaviour in young people.
Suicide awareness sessions launched
Athlone Voice (Tue, 10-Feb-2009)
The HSE Dublin Mid Leinster has launched a series of suicide awareness sessions entitled the 'Gatekeeper Community Education Programme'. The sessions will take place over a six week period in the Social Service Centre in Mullingar for approximately two hours each evening. The programme has been developed by the Suicide Resource Office of the HSE Midlands as part of an overall suicide prevention initiative and as such covers
a broad range of topics.
Depression
Depression on rise
Liffey Champion (Sat, 7 Feb 2009)
New research on mental health in the EU claims that depression is expected to be the highest-ranking cause of disease in developed countries by the year 2020. The data, quoted by members of the European Parliament's Public Health Committee, also shows that one in four adults are affected by mental ill health. A report published by the Committee is recommending greater emphasis on information campaigns in primary schools in order to combat the stigma associated with mental illness.
