Plea over community treatment for mentally ill
The Government should establish community-based services to look after people with mental health problems rather than force them into hospitals, a watchdog said today.
The Mental Health Services Inspector Dr Teresa Carey said an individual approach to treatment needs to be taken by service providers and agencies across the country.
Dr Carey said: “The reason people end up being involuntarily detained in hospitals is that it hasn’t been possible for one reason or another to get treatment to them in time.”
At the launch of the inspectorate’s first annual report, Dr Carey said, the Government funding for the mental health area should be doubled as the sector has gone unacknowledged.
The commission’s report said the area was “seriously under-funded” as it received only €680m or 6.8% of the health budget last year.
In the mid-1980s the funding was in the region of 12% of the health budget.
Stephen McMahon of the Irish Patients’ Association said it was disturbing to hear that almost 2,000 patients had been waiting for 20 years to get treatment in the community.
Mr McMahon said: “There is a lack of information in the public about mental health.”
The chairman of the Mental Health Commission, Dr John Owens, said it was “unconscionable” that around 2,400 people were being involuntarily admitted each year.
Phyllis Fitzgerald of the voluntary mental health organisation, Grow, said more effort must be made to ensure people do not return to hospital.
“They come out of hospital without being given the information they need. They come out to a family that maybe doesn’t understand how to deal with them,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
Dr Carey said people with schizophrenia and severe mood disorders were the ones who tended to be involuntarily admitted and there needed to be more thorough records kept to show how many were readmitted.
The report also stated there was concern at the recent rise in suicide rates, particularly among young males.
“Developing our primary care system is critical. Young people would probably be far more comfortable going to see a general practitioner than going to see a psychiatrist,” Dr Carey said.
The report showed there was a lack of services for children and adolescents and Dr Carey said young people must not be intimidated by the system.
The commission’s report described the number of beds available for young people as “wholly inadequate”.
The 2001 Mental Health Act, which established the commission, also outlined examining tribunals which will be up and running later this year.
The commission said the Mental Health Tribunals would give involuntarily detained patients fundamental rights.
The tribunal will meet and review anyone who is detained in a mental hospital against their will.
The inspector also said the Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill from 2002 must be given careful treatment.
Dr Carey said any new legislation must not transform general psychiatric units into secure facilities.
