Mental health campaigners have said the latest critical report on the state of services should act as a wake-up call to government.

Reviews into the deaths of children in care criticise how some cases were allowed to “drift” before meaningful action was taken, and the lack of coordination between social workers and other professionals such as Public Health Nurses and mental health services.

The number of data protection breaches involving sensitive personal information held by the HSE almost doubled to 212 last year, internal documents have revealed.

A psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a GP will form a special panel to discuss the screening of an award-winning film about an innovative mental health approach introduced in West Cork less than a year ago.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) did not report alleged incidents of serious sexual assault at a care home to gardaí, and denied they had ever happened when the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) raised concerns.

Over 100 data protection breaches involving sensitive personal information held by the HSE occurred during a recent 12-month period, internal documents have revealed.

A psychiatric unit where patients have no access to fresh air and where a naked patient was exposed because of inadequate privacy measures has been criticised by the inspector of Mental Health Services.

IF your partner or child is depressesd, it can be tough to continue supporting someone who’s looking at life through such a dark lens.

A talented 22-year-old art student from Mallow is one of the exhibitors whose work features in this year’s ‘Reflecting Through Art’ exhibition organised by Cork Mental Health Foundation.

Health chiefs have insisted they will be able to run services on less money this year without affecting patient care.

A woman accused of murdering her husband had stabbed him three years earlier after he had a lap dance in Stringfellows nightclub, a court has heard.

A LONG-AWAITED cash injection of €35m has been announced to strengthen and develop community mental health services, which have been under serious pressure.

ADULT psychiatric units admitted 105 children under the age of 18 from January to September this year, and hundreds of young people are on a waiting list for psychiatric services, new figures have shown.

THE wife of a man who killed their two young children and then took his own life by dousing his car in petrol and crashing into a wall at high speed has called for a review of certain aspects of mental health care.

A CARPENTER beat up his girlfriend and then burned her house down after she ended their relationship.

THE prescribing of sleeping tablets has reached record levels, falling just below common cholesterol and diabetes drugs, HSE figures have shown.

PATIENTS staying in outdated facilities will be living in new, community-based settings in three years’ time after the Government promised to close down 15 Victorian-era institutions.

SOME of the facilities we offer to people with mental health issues seem as likely to exacerbate illness as to contribute to recovery.

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) will have to fork out over €6 million in back rent for a health centre which has lain idle for more than two-and-a-half years.

The Inspector of Mental Health Services has criticised "fundamental" and "systematic" failures in how such services are delivered in Ireland.

Jimmy Woulfe, Mid-West Correspondent

NURSES’ representatives at a Limerick psychiatric hospital claim patients are living in Dickensian accommodation while health board staff occupy plush offices.

HEALTH workers in Clare will begin an indefinite strike on Monday following the suspension of three employees at Ennis Hospital.