Mick Wallace
Question:134. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his Department's policy or plans for early intervention for psychosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22527/15]
View answerWednesday, 10 June 2015
Questions (134)
Written answers
Since coming into office, this Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services in line with the recommendations in A Vision for Change. We are committed to reducing the stigma of mental illness, ensuring early and appropriate intervention and improving access to modern mental health services in the community.
A Vision for Change acknowledged the increasing emphasis on prompt identification and intervention with initial or early episodes of psychosis. It also noted the evidence which indicates that there is a clear relationship between the length of time it takes to respond to an individual’s first experience of psychosis and long-term outcome for that service user. If the illness is recognised and treated at an earlier stage, evidence has shown that more people will make a better recovery. An early intervention for psychosis service aims to treat people with psychotic conditions as soon after the onset of symptoms as possible.
The National Clinical Programme for Mental Health was set up in 2010 as a joint initiative between the HSE Clinical Strategy and Programmes Division and the College of Psychiatry of Ireland. A National Clinical Advisor/Clinical Programme Group Lead has been appointed. The aim of the post is to oversee the development of the Mental Health Clinical Programmes, providing leadership and guidance to effect the development of best practice care pathways, to support their approval and to oversee implementation by the local Mental Health Areas.
The overarching aim of the national programmes is to standardise quality evidence based practice across the Mental Health Services. The Mental Health Clinical Programme currently has three programmes. These are:
- Early Intervention for People Developing First Episode Psychosis.
- National Clinical Care Programme for the Assessment and Management of Patients Presenting to Emergency Departments following Self-Harm.
- Eating Disorders Service Spanning Child and Adolescent and Adult Mental Health Services.
These programmes address identified areas of high need and provide a programmatic response in which integration with other relevant services is key to successful delivery and reform.
The HSE National Service Plan 2015 commits to establishing the three Clinical Programmes through the appointment of Clinical Leads and implementation of an agreed monitoring framework. The 2015 Plan also commits to the design and establishment of two additional Clinical Programmes informed by emerging models of care.