August 14, 2014
Headline News Highlights (7th – 14th August 2014)
Mental Health
High observation unit at UHG to be staffed seven years on
Connacht Sentinel, 12-Aug-2014
University Hospital Galway are to consider bringing back into commission a €2.5 million 'high observation' unit next to the Acute Psychiatric Unit which has not been used for purpose since it was built seven years ago.
MINISTERIAL COMMITMENT TO MENTAL HEALTH IS WELCOMED
Emergency Services Ireland, 12-Aug-2014
Mental Health Reform Director Dr Shari McDaid said that the Minister had shown huge commitment to modernising mental health services in line with the government policy 'A Vision for Change'.
OVER ONE MILLION CONVERSATIONS STARTED BY GREEN RIBBON CAMPAIGN
Go Rail, 12-Aug-2014
Over one million conversations were started during the second annual Green Ribbon campaign by See Change to get Ireland talking about mental health in May 2014..
Man pleaded to go to psychiatric facility, inquest told
Irish Examiner, 12-Aug-2014
The brother of a man found dead in his father's garden told his inquest that his brother had pleaded to be admitted to a psychiatric facility following a suicide attempt four days previously but was refused because of "cutbacks"
QPR link up with Irish charity Console
Sunday Independent, 10-Aug-2014
Irish suicide prevention organisation Console has joined forces with English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers to help save lives.
Free number prompts flood of calls to Samaritans
Irish Independent, 09-Aug-2014
The number of people calling the Samaritans helpline has "increased significantly" this year, since the introduction of a new free phone number.
Almost a patient a day admitted to St Loman's
Westmeath Topic, 07-Aug-2014
Almost a patient-a- day was admitted and treated at St Loman's Hospital, Mullingar over the course of last year. According to figures just released, a total of 325 patients went through the doors of the Mullingar hospital, which is the main centre for mental health services in West- Meath and Longford.
Cherryfield Mental Health Unit update
Killarney Advertiser, 01-Aug-2014
Cherryfield Mental Health Unit update: The Health Service Executive has confirmed that the new 40 bed mental health unit on the Cherryfield site in Killarney will be completed by September 2015.
Suicide
Irish film on impact of suicide streamed free online
Irish Examiner, 13-Aug-2014
A powerful new Irish film attempting to highlight the impact of suicide on wider society is being streamed free online in an effort to encourage those at risk to seek help.
We must be careful not to deny suicide crisis
Irish Independent, 09-Aug-2014
Plans by Tanaiste Joan Burton to introduce death certificates which omit the cause of death in the event of a suicide are proving to be divisive. Ms Burton will introduce new regulations to allow a "short form" death certificate to be used.
Impact of suicide on communities basis for study by Galway student
Galway City Tribune, 08-Aug-2014
A Galway PhD student has been awarded funding from the Irish Research Council to conduct a study into how communities are impacted by the opening of a Pieta House centre in their area.