Medication ‘not the answer to mental illness’

OVER-RELIANCE on medication by the health service to treat people with a mental illness is hampering their chances of recovery, John Saunders of Schizo-phrenia Ireland has claimed.

There was clear evidence that the chances of recovery from psychosis and schizo-phrenia increased threefold when psychological interventions were included in the treatment regime, he said. But people were waiting up to nine months to receive psychological help.

“There needs to be rapid investment in terms of resources and manpower to ensure we have a psychological service that will allow multiple interventions over and above just medication,” said Mr Saunders.