‘Media conspiracy’ blamed for lack of coverage for mental health launch

MENTAL Health Minister John Moloney has questioned whether there is a media “conspiracy” behind the lack of coverage granted to a major campaign aimed at de-stigmatising mental illness.

Speaking before the Oireachtas Health Committee yesterday Mr Moloney said the launch of the Seachange initiative last week was a “very important intervention” and yet “there was not even a mention of it” in sections of the media.

“It struck me as if there was a conspiracy there,” he said, with members of the committee also stressing their concern over the lack of media coverage.

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhín O Caoláin said that despite the presence of two senior RTÉ broadcasters in Miriam O’Callaghan and Eileen Dunne, the national broadcaster had not carried a report on the TV news bulletins, while the print media had also not covered the launch.

Mr Moloney said: “I am just left to wonder if we try this again who will we turn to?”

Yesterday’s committee heard that €5m has been realised so far this year from the sale of properties which will be reinvested in the mental health area.

HSE head of estates Brian Gilroy said €7m had already been spent this year on mental health and €27m worth of projects have been entered into.

Mr Moloney said planning permission would be lodged in June for the construction of an acute mental health unit in the Beaumont Hospital, meaning no more acute services at Portrane, while this year will be the first since 1815 to see no admissions to Grangegorman.

Any new admissions will be catered for at a purpose-built unit in Blanchardstown.

Martin Rogan, National Care Group Manager for Mental Health Services, said certain issues needed to be reviewed, such as the reluctance of some psychiatrists to fulfil elements of the Vision for Change programme, including listening to the concerns of families who have a family member receiving treatment for a mental health issue.

He also admitted there was some “regionalised unevenness” regarding the staff complement of child and adolescent mental health teams around the country.