Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 July 2014
201. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the policy initiatives that his Department has taken since 2011 aimed at lessening the influence of the pharmacological industry in the delivery of mental health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30511/14]
View answerA Vision for Change, our mental health policy, proposes a holistic view of mental illness and recommends an integrated multidisciplinary approach to addressing the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to mental health problems. A number of initiatives have been put in place in recent years to underpin this approach and lessen the influence of traditional models of care.
A Vision for Change recommends that service users and carers should participate at all levels of the mental health system. It is acknowledged that service users have a unique insight into the experience of mental illness and are central to how we progress and further develop our mental health services. In January 2014, the HSE appointed an interim Head of Service User, Family Member and Carer Engagement as a member of the HSE National Mental Health Management Team and also committed to the establishment of a Reference Group to provide service user, family member and carer input into new organisational structures.
It is accepted that a recovery orientation should inform every aspect of service delivery and that service users should be partners in their own care. The Recovery approach that we want to see places a unique emphasis on the value of each person and their understanding of their illness and should be seen as natural process which service users believe can put greater choice and control back in their hands.
The 'Advancing Recovery in Ireland' (ARI) initiative is a partnership project between the HSE and other bodies which recognises the service provider, service user and family as equal stakeholders. The initiative focuses on service level structures, systems and practices that can maximise personal recovery opportunities and outcomes for service users. Some of the innovations being developed through ARI are Recovery Colleges, Peer Support Working and the Recovery Context inventory Tool. The ARI is an 18 month initiative which is being rolled out on a phased basis to allow maximum benefit, the initial phase of which commenced in May 2013.
This Government has, since 2012, provided additional funding totalling €90 million and some 1,100 posts primarily to strengthen and enhance Community Mental Health Teams to ensure multidisciplinary representation on these teams, including social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists etc. The Counselling in Primary Care Service (CIPC), which was launched in July 2013, is a new national service which will improve access for people to counselling in a primary care setting. At full capacity, CIPC will be able to deliver short term counselling to approx. 13,000 people over a full year. Medical card holders aged 18 and over who are referred by their GP or other member of the primary care team can have up to 8 counselling sessions to address mild to moderate psychological difficulties.
All psychiatrists prescribe medication following evidence based practice on the treatment of specific mental illnesses. All psychiatrists are required by the Medical Council to complete a programme of ongoing professional education to ensure they maintain up to date in all relevant aspects in their area of clinical specialism. This is overseen by the Irish College of Psychiatrists on behalf of the Medical Council. The Mental Health Commission requires each inpatient mental health unit to have a policy on the prescribing, dispensing and storage of medication based on its standards. During its annual inspection of each inpatient unit, the Inspector of Mental Health Services examines each unit's policy and reports on its compliance.
