asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report that, at 7.4 per thousand of the population, the number of persons suffering from mental disease in Ireland is the highest rate in Western Europe; if this figure is correct; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Incidence of Mental Disease.
12.
I am aware of a Press report to this effect. However, there are no figures available to show the relative prevalence of mental illness in this country compared with that in other countries. What the speaker probably had in mind is the number of patients in mental hospitals which is, admittedly, higher than in other countries. This fact has been known for many years. A conference to discuss it was called by my Department as far back as 1959 and since then efforts have continuously been made to have the numbers reduced by the development of out-patient and domiciliary services. In 1958 the population in mental hospitals was 21,095 representing 7.38 patients per 1,000 of the population. That number has now been reduced to 15,856, a reduction of 24.76 per cent, and represents a rate of 5.30 patients per 1,000 of the population.
This significant decrease has been brought about by the development of community services and I would hope that continuing improvements in them and in the social services generally will lead to further reductions.
Has the Minister any figures for those attending out-patient departments as distinct from those institutionalised?
I have not got that information here but, if the Deputy puts down a question, I will give it to him.
Would there be patients in mental hospitals who are not really suitable for such institutions? I am thinking of the mentally retarded who years ago were put into these institutions?
I did not quite get the gist of the Deputy's question.
Has the Minister heard of the revolving door syndrome? Patients are discharged from mental hospitals and either end up in prison or in a return to the hospitals.
Are there people in mental hospitals who would be regarded nowadays as unsuitable for such institutions?
I am informed there are people in our mental hospitals who could be catered for in their own homes but there seems to be some sort of prejudice and people are inclined, I am told, to have such patients sent to mental hospitals. As far as the revolving door is concerned, does the Deputy mean the period of stay may be too short?
I think patients are being discharged prematurely and they either return again to hospital or end up in prison and this leads to inaccurate figures.
We cannot continue on this question.
We had a case recently of a prisoner who was a mental patient.
I am calling Question No. 13.