One in 10 calls to Samaritans in Ireland are recession related
The report, the Human Cost, reveals all areas of the mental health sector are seeing increased demand since the onset of the recession with one in 10 calls to the Samaritans in Ireland during 2010 described as “recession-related”.
A working group consulted for the report concluded that a change in culture and approach by financial institutions was needed, particularly a move away from an adversarial to a supportive, engaging approach.
The MHC also consulted with a broad range of organisations including the Financial Regulator, Banking Federation of Ireland, NGOs, MABS, and GPs for the purposes of the report. Overall, it found that unemployment, debt and poverty are impacting on the mental health of adults, adolescents and children. Another possibility which the report says could be explored with the Financial Regulator is that a third party be permitted to engage with a lender on behalf of vulnerable person as, at the moment, banks can only deal with the person directly.
As highlighted in a special investigation in the Irish Examiner earlier this year, drugs to treat mental health problems cost over €113 million a year, with at least 14,000 prescriptions for anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, anti-psychotics and sleeping tablets written every day.
The MHC study highlights the increased levels of prescribing of anxiety and anti-depressant drugs since 2007. It states, while “it is difficult to make concrete attributions”, the increases in rates of prescription for anti-depressants are greater than the 6% increase in medical cards which occurred from 2007 to 2008.
Marking World Mental Health Day today, MHC chairman Dr Edmond O’Dea said economic difficulty was putting strain on individuals and may add to mental health problems. At the same time economic difficulty was leading the Government to postpone necessary investment in mental health services in recessionary times.
“When we call for investment in mental health we are usually calling on the Government to invest the funding required to develop modern community-based services,” said Dr O’Dea. “But there are other types of investment in mental health that are important too. Individuals can also play their part. When you are under significant stress and experiencing great anxiety, you are more vulnerable to mental health difficulties. People should look out for the signs, examine their lives and try to remove causes of stress, talk to their GPs if any aspect of their mental condition is of concern to them and talk openly to trusted friends and loved ones about how they feel. If people are experiencing mental difficulties or feel under severe stress and pressure, maintaining good nutrition and taking regular exercise are simply and achievable steps to take, which can have a very positive impact.”
