Funding for mental health services ‘should be doubled to €1.2bn’
Dr Carey was speaking ahead of the publication today of the watchdog’s first annual report, which will claim that poor funding is contributing to the high rate of involuntary admissions to mental institutions.
About 10% (2,400) of the 24,000 people admitted to psychiatric hospitals every year are detained against their will.
Dr Carey wants funding to be doubled to at least 12% of the overall health budget and ring-fenced. Last year, €612 million was spent on mental health services. Dr Carey wants to increase resources for community-based services. These help to defuse potentially crisis situations and minimise admissions to psychiatric hospitals.
“Having well-developed community-based services certainly reduces the risk of people being detained against their will in hospitals as well as overall admissions,” said Dr Carey.
Mental health services only received 6.8% of the health budget last year, compared to 12% in the mid-90’s. Dr Carey said some countries had pitched the level at 12.5% of the overall health budget.
“Mental illness contributes to about 25% of all health disability in the country, so pitching it at 12.5% is not too high at all,” said Dr Carey.
Tribunals established by the Mental Health Commission under the 2001 Mental Health Act, are expected to begin investigating why patients are involuntary detained.
Every person detained in a mental hospital will have to be seen by a mental health tribunal within 21 days and those who opt to become voluntary patients during their detention can also opt to have their case reviewed.
Schizophrenia Ireland director John Saunders said low funding was only part of the problem - funds were also spread disproportionately across the regions.
“We also need to look at how the money is spent and invest in pro-active and preventative systems which, in the long term, will cost less,” he said.
The inspectorate’s report will also question the quality of statistics available from mental health services and say that more detailed information is needed.
Dr Carey said the inspectorate was also planning to develop rules for the use of restraints and electro-convulsive therapy in the treatment of patients.
The inspectorate also includes assistant inspectors drawn from consultant psychiatry, psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, occupational therapy and social work.
It is currently inspecting mental health services and their first comprehensive report is expected next year.
An examination of the country’s mental health services carried out last year by the former inspector of mental hospitals, Dermot Walsh, is expected to be published within the next few weeks.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
