#Mental Health

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#Mental Health

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Cork Prison: People with intellectual disabilities are over-represented in prison, and there is growing concern about trans-institutionalisation — that prisons essentially function as institutions in which to 'manage' people with intellectual disabilities. Picture: Larry Cummins</p>

comment-analysis

We are jailing people with intellectual disabilities instead of helping them

Ireland has formally committed to protecting and promoting the rights of people with disabilities, but is failing, especially for those who are in prison

<p>Gambling-like features within games are a main revenue for the gaming industry. File photo: Alamy/PA</p>

news

Health experts highlight gambling's 'disturbing focus' on underage players in gaming

<p> Maurice O'Connell with his son Jason: 'Our children are shutting down.' Pictures: Alan Landers.</p>

spotlight

More children waiting for mental health services in Cork and Kerry than any other region

‘It’s not all doom and gloom’: End-of-life doulas support people near death

spotlight

‘It’s not all doom and gloom’: End-of-life doulas support people near death

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Gareth O'Callaghan: Suicide leaves behind so many unanswered questions for loved ones

Depressed woman talking to her pchychologist closeup

S comment-analysis

Mild, moderate, or severe? Proposed regulations for therapists proving explosive

File Photo The Health Service Executive has said it is working to establish how many patients may need to have their medical tes

'Big concern' over funding for mental health patient services

Consultants fear lack of protected funding under new regional care structure could harm service delivery

Sun, 19 Oct, 2025

High school students at school, wearing N95 Face masks.

Almost half of teachers identify students suffering an eating disorder

Findings come as educational resource aimed at improving body image is launched

Thu, 16 Oct, 2025

Irish Prison Service to spend over €440,000 to research mental health needs of inmates

Irish Prison Service to spend over €440,000 to research mental health needs of inmates

Research to inform clinical practice in prisons and support of prisoners going back into the community

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

Terry Prone: Like others with dementia, Bruce Willis is being robbed of his dignity and privacy

S Terry Prone: Like others with dementia, Bruce Willis is being robbed of his dignity and privacy

Fame does not protect us from the reality that the person with dementia is the loser. Once diagnosed, they lose all of their rights, starting with the right to privacy

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

Couple counseling or therapy session. Man talking about problems in the family. Husband and wife meeting their psychiatrist.

New therapy regulations 'will not ensure public safety'

Row between psychotherapy sector and regulator Coru escalates as IACP warns that new standards could put patients at risk

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Official Opening of the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane

Budget 2026: Minister seeks funds for psychiatric ICU in Central Mental Hospital

Opening could 'significantly reduce' the lengthy waiting times for severely ill prisoners

Sun, 05 Oct, 2025

An anxious adult man reading bad news on his phone while sitting on a couch

Gareth O'Callaghan: Auden's 'age of anxiety' has never been more relevant

When it comes to social media, safety and freedom are poles apart, writes Gareth O'Callaghan

Sat, 04 Oct, 2025

Migration and staffing among issues hampering Tusla’s work, PAC to hear

Migration and staffing among issues hampering Tusla’s work, PAC to hear

Tusla has been under increased fire in recent months over alleged gaps in its engagement with the families of vulnerable children such as Daniel Aruebose

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Meta Connect

AI seriously endangers children's mental health

AI is in every aspect of our lives now, and regulation is not keeping up - children are at huge risk, writes Alex Cooney, Chief Executive of CyberSafeKids

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Victim of attempted murder seeks to have law changed around 'unique and complex' case

Victim of attempted murder seeks to have law changed around 'unique and complex' case

Fionnuala Bourke, who was stabbed nine times in a random attack by a stranger, is angry that her attacker has been deemed to have served her 10-year sentence – even though she has not spent any of it in prison

Mon, 29 Sep, 2025

‘Irish men must take action' in wake of worrying report about poor health and premature death

‘Irish men must take action' in wake of worrying report about poor health and premature death

National Centre for Men’s Health director also calls on men to look out for each other, saying that men are inclined to listen to their workmates and other peers

Sun, 28 Sep, 2025

Serious, overworked, very sad male health care worker

Violence against health workers must end

All people have a right to safety in their workplace. When we fail to uphold this right for healthcare workers, we hurt not only them, but also the health of the public they serve, writes Adaeze Oreh

Thu, 25 Sep, 2025

77th Primetime Emmy Awards - Press Room

Sarah Harte: Ireland's new counselling services for young men are badly needed

There are young men out there seeking connection in the wrong places, and we have to help them because it’s a problem for us all, writes Sarah Harte

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Multi-lingual mental health service sees clients from 36 countries since opening last year

Multi-lingual mental health service sees clients from 36 countries since opening last year

Much of Safetynet’s other work is concentrated around Dublin

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Medical Marijuana Edibles, Candies Infused with HHC Cannabis in food industry

Ireland's delay in banning HHC may have boosted demand

Teenagers in Ireland have become ill and had to be hospitalised due to vaping the semi-synthetic cannabinoid

Mon, 22 Sep, 2025

Little 7 years schoolboy going to school.

Suspensions ‘crisis’ at flagship special school in Cork

One parent says Carrigaline Community Special School — for children from 4 to 18 with a dual diagnosis of autism and intellectual disability — handed out suspensions 'like confetti'

Sun, 21 Sep, 2025

Mental health stock

Mental health charities call for extra €200m in budget to meet increasing demand

Mental Health Reform says demand for children's mental health services continues to surge

Thu, 18 Sep, 2025

Crisis cafés reduce emergency department pressure in mental health cases, study finds

Crisis cafés reduce emergency department pressure in mental health cases, study finds

Crisis cafés in Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Waterford provide safe, supportive alternatives to A&E for people in mental health crises

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Mother and son looking out of window

Systemic barriers are keeping families in poverty, summit hears

Group representing single-parent families tells Child Poverty and Well-being Summit we need the political will to address child poverty and deprivation

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

sad lonely depression mood woman silhouette touch glass windows rainy dark day outside

A&E can be 'dehumanising' for people in suicide crisis

A major consultation finds Ireland’s suicide prevention services are failing, with EDs called retraumatising and calls for 24/7 crisis centres

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

travel background

As three in five under-25s consider leaving the country, we must act to help young people

Young people's needs are continually neglected even though they are disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis, writes Kathryn Walsh

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

‘Completely shut down’: Woman shares how family secrecy around suicide shaped her life

‘Completely shut down’: Woman shares how family secrecy around suicide shaped her life

From hidden family secrets to intergenerational trauma, Irish families share painful stories of suicide — and how healing begins with truth

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Graham Linehan court case

Sarah Harte: Graham Linehan's part in toxic debate puts freedom of speech limits into focus

'I have ideologically flip-flopped more times on how extensive freedom of speech should be than I have changed the treat I chomp at the end of a working day'

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Donabate missing boy

S Fergus Finlay: Ireland’s child protection failures go beyond Tusla — the real issue is political will

Ireland has one social worker per 3,000 people, yet we scapegoat Tusla instead of fixing systemic failures in child protection

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

Merchants Quay Ireland1

Charity reports surge in demand for its homeless, addiction, and mental health services

Merchants Quay Ireland reports a 23% rise in the number of meals it provides for people who are homeless, while drug referrals in its Cavan-Monaghan service rose more than 50%

Fri, 29 Aug, 2025

Man who struggled with suicidal thoughts calls for end to stigma around mental health

Man who struggled with suicidal thoughts calls for end to stigma around mental health

Anthony O’Reardon called on managers and colleagues to accept stress as a reason for taking time off work

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Ireland Women's Rugby Squad Training

Irish Examiner view: Success that depends on the 'big girls going well'

Moving women’s rugby more into the mainstream is something everyone can support

Sat, 23 Aug, 2025

Woman looking at houses and flats in the window of an estate agent in London, UK

S Mick Clifford: No country for young people if housing crisis is not fixed

Today’s school leavers should be better equipped that those who went before to go out in the world and make the most if it. However, inequality is draining hope

Sat, 23 Aug, 2025

North Cork rural charity sets up mental health support project to combat isolation

North Cork rural charity sets up mental health support project to combat isolation

Closures of rural pubs and changing agricultural practices leaving people feeling socially isolated, according to rural charitable development company IRD Duhallow

Thu, 21 Aug, 2025

Girl covering her eyes with her hands

Corporal punishment carries 'multiple risks' to children’s health, says WHO

An estimated 1.2 billion children are subject to this ‘harmful practice’ each year, affecting physical and mental wellbeing, World Health Organization report finds

Thu, 21 Aug, 2025

People visiting Cork mental health cafe 'often coming from trauma or bereavement'

People visiting Cork mental health cafe 'often coming from trauma or bereavement'

Solace Cafe, located in Cork city centre, offers out-of-hours support with peer support from volunteers tending to have lived experience of mental distress, says one service user

Sat, 16 Aug, 2025

Work finally begins on replacement for Owenacurra mental health centre in East Cork

Work finally begins on replacement for Owenacurra mental health centre in East Cork

Local TD and campaigner says it has been an 'epic struggle' after demolition work in Midleton finally began on August 5

Sun, 10 Aug, 2025

Shooting At Blackstone Headquarters In New York

NFL shooting highlights battle to reduce brain injury in sport

The problems caused by contact sports are real — we need to make rugby and American Football safer

Wed, 06 Aug, 2025

Prisoner died day before his scheduled transfer to psychiatric unit, report says

Prisoner died day before his scheduled transfer to psychiatric unit, report says

A psychiatrist told the investigation team that 'accessing treatment in a community-based psychiatric facility is extremely challenging'

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Devastated millennial man crying sad feeling hurt and hopeless suffering Depression. Depressed teenager victim of bullying or ab

€2m fund for counselling to boost men’s mental health

'These new supports will be made available to every GP in the country for direct signposting to men during consultations'

Mon, 04 Aug, 2025

Prison Report Released - Chelmsford Prison

Limited progress on landmark 2022 mental health report

Implementation report suggests there has been limited progress in a large number of key recommendations made by a Government taskforce on mental health, addiction and prisons

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Man in prison hands of behind hold Steel cage jail bars. offender criminal locked in jail.

Prisons turned into 'human warehouses' by chronic overcrowding — Council of Europe inspectors

Overcrowding, violence — and a mentally-ill female prisoner who 'had not had access to a shower for four days' — among issues raised by the Council of Europe Committee on the Prevention of Torture

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

Stressed unhappy young woman sitting on sofa.

Next budget gives State chance to prove young people are a genuine priority

Engaging with our generation is key to ensure October’s budget supports meaningful policy change that will improve the lives of young people across the country

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

The Social Media Overuse

It's crystal clear that an unregulated digital world carries far too many risks for the young

While technology is with us and brings great benefits to everyone, tech platforms and those who are in the business of selling their digital products and advertising to us, must do it in a way that is decent and fair, writes Noeline Blackwell

Mon, 21 Jul, 2025

Advocates call for 'key changes' to Mental Health Bill to protect the 'rights and dignity' of patients

Advocates call for 'key changes' to Mental Health Bill to protect the 'rights and dignity' of patients

Campaigners concerned about involuntary admissions to psychiatric units and use of chemical restraints

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

'Cork hurling is much more than just a game — it helped me bond with my dad’

'Cork hurling is much more than just a game — it helped me bond with my dad’

As his father faces motor neurone disease, James O'Sullivan reflects on Cork hurling, memory, masculinity, and the love passed down through sport

Mon, 14 Jul, 2025

FRANCE-DEMO-DRUG-CANNABIS

Younger people drinking less but smoking more cannabis than older generations

While 70% of older people considered their mental health to be good or very good, this fell to just over half for people aged 18-24

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025

Proposed Cork mental health facility a 'blatant breach' of UN convention

Proposed Cork mental health facility a 'blatant breach' of UN convention

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide said there are no community amenities for people with severe and long-term mental illness within walking distance of St Stephen's Hospital at Sarsfield’s Court, Glanmire

Wed, 09 Jul, 2025

Baby stock

Maternity advocates urge creative thinking on mother and baby psychiatric units

Plans remain in the early stages, with just a feasibility study completed eight years after the facility was recommended

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025