Mental Health.An election issue?

by Stuart Tue Feb 27, 2007 09:02

The Progressive Democrat Junior Health Minister Tim O'Malley has announced plans to close the abominable "grim, obsolete Victorian prison" of St Kevin's Psychiatric Hospital, Shanakiel in Cork - a welcome step in modernising mental healthcare and freeing resources for community care teams,

Except that St Kevin's closure was completed in 2002. Planning Register Reference Number: T.P. 03/27501 describes a proposed development in 2003: The construction of student accommodation consisting of one number one bedroom caretaker apartment and 123 number student apartments (23 number three bedroom, 54 number four bedroom and 46 number five bedroom), in two number buildings of three to six storeys, including associated communal facilities, site development works and 104 number surface car parking spaces, on lands to the rear (north) of the former Our Lady's Hospital, Shanakiel (a protected structure), with vehicular/pedestrian access from Blarney Road and pedestrian access from Shanakiel Road.

With ministers who have never set foot inside psychiatric care facilities, modern or ancient, and have little understanding of the experience of mental illness, this is never going to be an election issue. Even when highly regarded public figures enter psychiatric care (with extremely visible, election-worthy consequences in 2005) their ill-health is not disclosed or discussed.

by Voice of Reason Tue Feb 27, 2007 13:58

O'Mally was the first minister for state for mental health ever. He is building the services up from scratch, and in that context is doing far better than expected.

by Stuart Tue Feb 27, 2007 14:15

.... Progressive Democrat Minister Tim O'Malley is the man who believes waiting lists exist because it makes doctors feel important, that the complete absence of child psychiatric services is "improving" and on schedule, and that "mental illness is not a medical condition".

There are no mental health tribunals as promised many, many years ago and legislated for in 2001. The community psychiatric service barely exists, and then only by regional lottery. The Minister should spend some time in psychiatric services observing the horrendous conditions that staff, patients and visitors have to contend with.

by Dr nick Tue Feb 27, 2007 15:21

I have to agree with Stuart on this. Someone who doesnt believe mental illness is a medical condition should not hold the position that Minister O'Malley holds. Like most politicans when it comes to health and most issues he is utterly clueless.

The fact remains that the health issues for the next general elction will be lack of beds, long waiting lists,health insurance etc etc. How comes mental health isnt top on the voting publics agenda?

.

by seriously Tue Feb 27, 2007 18:31

Ask your candidates for their policies. Remind them how long better mental health services have been promised - ask them is the role of the state to be played by micro-religious groups, the "clean mind in healthy body =mens sana in corpore sano" health club fads?
or better still - should people with mental health problems get the boat to England?

by Stuart Thu Mar 01, 2007 14:06

The only way to make mental health an election issue is to turn to the threat-politics that is the current fashion - which is probably a high risk strategy that would do nothing good for mental health issues in the long run. It was done with homelessness under Margaret Thatcher in the UK to great effect and runs something like this: mentally ill people are very dangerous; depressed and schizophrenic people are a danger to themselves, their families, their immediate community and society; dealing with the danger of mentally ill people could be as cheap as providing someone to talk to, a place to spend time with others or a mentor to help with consistent medication and attendance at appointments; keeping everyone safe from mental illness is an important issue that costs little. Two thirds of prisoners have a history of mental illness, but prison is expensive and ineffective at reducing crime committed by people who are mentally ill.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Sun Apr 29, 2007 22:17

a.m. Sunday Morning Taoiseach Bertie Ahern found himself at the Aras - time was scarce with President McAleese due to her journey to the US today......

The date is set.... May 24th is the date of the election.

Dr. Nick......I presume a medical doctor but irrespective you appear to grasp mental health and the neglect that exists in Ireland towards people with psychiatric/emotional/addictive states of mind and the inability of Services/Professions to deal with the problem in a proactive multi-disciplinary programme. I am aware that Trinity FAS Aware and others have been involved in research and involvement through Work Life Balance which originates from the EU and links to the Department of Justice - Equality area.

But more is needed.

Stuart.
I had not known of threat politics in the UK, but as I read your posting, it became so obvious. Media, people have a debt to society to alert themselves to bogus/mental illness taunts.......Too many are made and accepted. Each time you taunt a person with mental illness, believe me they feel it, right down to the core of their being. I would ask people to think on this further, the taunts, the insinuations, the put downs, can then be responsible for other addictions. Anxiety is coaxed away by alcohol for brief periods, and followed by hangovers and anxiety the next day.

My best friend through years of depression has been reading, seeking similar identies in other writers, that console the need within. This goes right the way back to the Bible. Education is about learning and changing attitudes........it is about pace, exposure, rest.......search until daily you seek a tiny mystery and therein the gem becomes Hope.

A pilgrim path through the internet in the direction best practice mental health......... I think Dr. Corry is a doctor who explores this and asks his patients to accompany him on the journey. He is a medical person who bares witness (per today's papers) to the appalling state of our mental health services.

One extreme I found was book at knock down price in Easons. What a gem. It is about Behavioral Medicine - Made ridiculously simple.

Image: Hand, a pen, a script.......'Not just a bag of bones - Treat Carefully'.

If only.........there has to be some way of treating mental health problem and learning from patients, consultants, GP's, nurses, family.....all working as a team......not the loggerheads that is so evident by the nurses and Consultant strikes of present time. Shame on them......

The book is written by Frank Seitz Ph.D written 1997 MedMaster

Chapter 6
Medical Care and the Family:
The Myth of the Marlboro Man

Neolithic First Law of Human Behaviour:

'Insanity is inherited. You get it from the children'

Now there is a Tall Order for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Opposition Leader Enda Kenny; Trevor Sargent (Greens); Joe Higgins; Pat Rabbitte, Ruari Quinn.......those media people like Vincent Browne (well done to his radio programme on Mental Health last week, .......... Minister for Health, Mary Harney.......Professor Drumm (HSE........who never mentions mental health).........

Tonight I ask an Taoiseach to nominate Paddy the Plasterer and Mr. Bailey or perhaps Bernard McNamara - to be designated to his whole area relating to mental health, drug addiction, homelessness, suicide education. The people should assume the role of the philantropist with a business credo to create a completely new approach to Mental Health in the 32 Counties of Ireland......Now there is an election challenge...........What about positive outcomes?

Michelle Clarke The Stigma relating to Mental Health needs to stop.....we need to grow ...... they say we are heading towards a knowledge economy..well let us start.

Extract

'When family embedded illness behaviors do not respond to primary health care. Discretion can become the better part of valor.

Redflags indicating referral include

Chronic depression or anxiety
Significant suicidal risk
Alcohol or drug dependence
Long term family problems
Spouse and child abuse
Long term personality dirorders........

Wexford has shown twice in two years 7 sad deaths. Mrs. Grace and her two children walked out of a hospital and into the sea.....

We all know about the Dunne Family in Wexford last week. It was both tragic and sad and now serious questions are to be asked and answered.......

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Thu Mar 27, 2008 14:09

Dr. Nick

Today is the day for Console to promote awareness. The snowdrops is their choice of flower.....a beautiful Spring wild flower.

I know Seanator Henry has spent considerable time during her Senate years trying to promote mental health but she is correct there is a problem with the Irish electorate and I would go so far as to say shame and stigma.

Presedent Kennedy on the other hand was a man with a humanity factor, the wealth came from engaging in life experience over several generations. His sister suffered and was in care for mental illness. I think she was one of the early patients who had a lobotomy (something similar to those with TBI)

We need vision

Let us think of Jonathan Swift in the 1600's
'Give vision to the visionless

by Don Thu Mar 27, 2008 14:45

Fine Gael relesed a separate manifesto dealing with mental illnesses. And is currently the only party pushing the autistic issue.