College Press Statements 2020

With the Christmas period bringing more triggers and the potential for increased levels of gambling, the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland has launched their paper on Gambling Disorder today. Calling for an urgent, outright ban on gambling advertisement in sports in early 2021, the College also raises the urgent need for dedicated treatment pathways to tackle the hidden epidemic of gambling addiction in Ireland.

The College of Psychiatrists welcomes the Mental Health Commission (MHC) report today calling for appropriate care for those with mental illness among our older population. The findings in the report are a stark confirmation of what we know is missing.

The College of Psychiatrists continues to be concerned for those requiring access to mental health support and services particularly since Covid 19 hit. On World Mental Health day 2020 the College calls on the government to finally show their commitment financially to mental health service delivery and development in the upcoming 2021 Budget.

The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland wishes to state our complete opposition to racism in all forms, in light of the killing of George Floyd in the US city of Minneapolis, and the protests against racial discrimination and inequality that have followed across America and the rest of the world. We fully support calls to end the inequality and other abhorrent acts of racism, both physical and psychological, caused by structural and institutional racism.

Following a media interview (23 June) on the programme for government the future of the Department for Children and Youth Affairs and maintaining a Minister for Children seems further in doubt.

As coronavirus restrictions begin to ease, a survey of Consultant Psychiatrists carried out by the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland shows the emergence of a new mental health curve that will need flattening. With a worrying increase in referrals, urgent and acute presentations to specialist mental health services and relapses, a previously predicted surge in mental illness presentations looks increasingly likely. View report summary here.

The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland today launched a special edition of its official scientific journal, Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine (IJPM), collating over 40 articles documenting the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in society and the delivery of mental health services since the pandemic took hold. Covering perspectives from several countries across multiple disciplines and healthcare settings, this unique edition has open access and is freely available to all.

Today the United Nations and the World Health Organisation highlighted that mental health needs must be treated as a core element of our response to and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic requiring an ‘urgent increase of investment in services for mental health’ or ‘risk a massive increase in mental health conditions in the coming months’.

Continued support, guidance and flexibility are needed for those with mental illness while protective and restrictive measures are in place for the Coronavirus.

The Faculty of Intellectual Disability Psychiatrists welcomes the recent announcement of increased HSE funding and supports to the disability services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Continued support, guidance and flexibility is needed for those with mental illness while protective and restrictive measures are in place for the Coronavirus. With this in mind and to alleviate the additional pressure or stress that families of young people with mental illness now face the College has embarked on developing a series of short videos outlining a number of key practical measures they can take.

Continued support, guidance and flexibility is needed for those with mental illness while protective and restrictive measures are in place for the Coronavirus. With this in mind and to alleviate the additional pressure or stress that families of young people with mental illness now face the College has embarked on developing a series of short videos with a few key practical measures for them.

Vulnerable groups with mental illness and neurodevelopment conditions need extra guidance, support and flexibility in how services and treatments are delivered in these extraordinary circumstances, highlights the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland. It is vital that people with these conditions continue to engage with their mental health practitioners and services during this Coronavirus outbreak period.

A recent two hour CPD session on Gambling Disorders and Gaming marked the 5th anniversary of the College Hot Topics in Psychiatry series.

The College of Psychiatrists urges election candidates and politicians to be cautious of the language and terms they use which can create hurt, further stigma and misinformation around mental illness disorders and distress. While the College welcomes references to developing Mental Health Services, mental health promotion and other proposals around mental health over the next five to six days of intense pre general election activity it asks that they (candidates) refrain from using stigmatising and inappropriate terms related to mental health and illness.

The importance of advocacy, social prescribing and empowerment were all key themes that emerged at a recent symposium and workshop on “The Monetary Impact of Mental Illness: Conversations that Matter in Signposting”, developed and organised by the College and its REFOCUS group.