Category: Government Policy
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Letter to Oireachtas Committee on Health – Concerns re. Proposed Changes to the Mental Health Act 2001
Following a College EGM on 3rd February 2022, the College has written to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health to outline concerns around the proposed amendments to the Mental Health (Amendment) Act 2001 and to request a meeting to discuss same. See this correspondence in full below or here. To: Deputy Seán Crowe, Chair,…
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College EGM, 3 February 2022: Motions and Results
Members of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland have voted, with overwhelming majority at College EGM, that proposed amendments to the Mental Health Act 2001 will be problematic for patients, showing a clear and necessary commitment to robust, continuing engagement on the revisions to the Act. A College EGM on the current draft Heads of…
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CPsychI 2020 General Election Manifesto – Our Key Asks
Please find the College General Election 2020 Manifesto below which features our 6 key asks in relation to mental health services and people with severe, enduring mental illness. You can download the manifesto here.
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The Unique Mental Health Needs of Migrants and Refugees
With today marking International Migrants Day, we are highlighting the urgent need to acknowledge the specialised mental health requirements of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Many of those seeking asylum have been witness to war, atrocities, persecution, natural disasters and grinding poverty, leaving many with complex psychological needs that can only be addressed by easily…
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Cannabis is now the main drug driving referral to adolescent addiction services
PRESS STATEMENT: 30th November 2018 Cannabis is now the main drug driving referral to adolescent addiction services say concerned psychiatrists amid coverage of cannabis use in the last week. Cannabis is now the leading cause of new presentations to Ireland’s adolescent addiction services. The trends in cannabis use and cannabis related harms which are evident…
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College President, Dr John Hillery, on concerns over restraint and seclusion of mental health patients.
College President, Dr John Hillery, spoke to Gavin Grace on ClareFM about concerns over recent report from Mental Health Commission on the use of restraint on mental health patients in mental health centres across the country, 23/10/2018. According to recent figures from the Mental Health Commission more than 1,000 patients were physically restrained or secluded an average…
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‘Fit for Purpose Mental Health Service for All’ – CPsychI Pre Budget Submission 2019
The College proposes a list of priorities detailing a ‘Fit for Purpose Mental Health Service for All’ for psychiatrists and allied health professionals, patients and their families/carers. Photo by Ibrahim Rifath on Unsplash Click here to read the full Pre Budget Submission. Recruitment and retention of mental health professionals is thwarted by services that are overall underfunded, pressured…
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College is dismayed that there is no mental health services representation on the newly appointed Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Council announced late Wednesday
PRESS STATEMENT: The College of Psychiatrists intends writing to Minister Harris asking why psychiatry is not represented on the newly formed Sláintecare Advisory Council (03/10/18) While it is encouraging to see progress on Sláintecare implementation it is very disappointing that psychiatry has not been asked for representation given that many consultant psychiatrists have experience…
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Telepsychiatry: Dr John Hillery and Dr Bobby Smyth on RTÉ Radio One, Drivetime
Dr John Hillery, Consultant psychiatrist and President of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, and Dr Bobby Smyth, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist in the HSE discuss Telepsychiatry on RTÉ Radio One, Drivetime with Mary Wilson. Psychiatric services are under pressure and waiting lists are growing. Mary Wilson asks could digital technology be part of the…
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Mental Health in the Media
The last week has proven to be a busy ‘media’ time for psychiatrists, psychiatry and the College in print, broadcast and social media. Many items were covered this week: Youth Mental Health, CAMHS, General Mental Health Services, Recruitment, Retention, Resourcing, Work Environments, and Attitudes and Processes in the HSE. The College contributed to a number of media…