asked the Minister for Health the total number of people currently receiving psychiatric treatment in hospitals in this country; the proportion this constitutes of the total population; and the average length of such treatment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Psychiatric Treatment.
14.
On 31st December, 1971, the latest date for which figures are available, 15,961 persons were receiving in-patient treatment in psychiatric hospitals in this country, of whom 14,922 were in public mental hospitals and 1,039 were in private mental hospitals.
The total represents a proportion of 5.4 per 1,000 of the population. The corresponding figure in 1961 was 7.3 per 1,000.
I regret that statistics are not yet available regarding the average length of stay of patients, but an analysis of discharges during the year ending 31st December, 1970, showed that 50 per cent of the total number of discharges had required treatment in hospital for a period not exceeding one month; a further 25 per cent had required treatment for a period not exceeding two months; 18 per cent had required treatment for a period exceeding two months and not exceeding 12 months; and 7 per cent had required treatment of more than one year's duration.
Can the Minister say how the proportion of the population in mental hospitals here compares with the figure for Britain?
The Deputy will have to ask another question in order to ascertain that information. The rate here is higher than in Britain, particularly among young people. All those facts have been published. I am sure the Deputy reads the Medical Journal and he will know that there was a report in that publication the other day which carried a comparison between the number of young people suffering from schizophrenia here and in Great Britain. The problem is a very big one and one that must be tackled.
Is the Minister satisfied that enough is being done in this direction?
We are endeavouring to have a study carried out of the socio-economic background of these people. There has been some objection by certain people in the fear that such a study might disclose confidential information. I have tried to assure everybody concerned that no confidential information will be disclosed and that the figures will be given on a basis which will not include any names so that we can examine the socio-economic background of large numbers of young people between the ages of 16 and 34 who are admitted for schizophrenia.