Clinic: Recession pushing mental health problems to breaking point

The ongoing impact of the recession is pushing the mental health of families and individuals to breaking point, a leading private clinic has warned.

Officials from the Dean Clinic in Mahon, Cork, made the claim after the group’s annual report showed a surge in new patients seeking help from the service.

According to the clinic, which is seeing up to 1,600 patients every 12 months, the recession has caused a 50% year-on-year rise in new patients.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Treasa O’Sullivan said part of this rise is because people are increasingly becoming aware of the Mahon-based service, which opened in 2009.

However, she said that coupled with the significant number of people accessing help from the HSE, the surge in cases is another sign of the recession’s hidden impact.

Dean’s Clinic in Mahon is one of seven services across the country that are run by the St Patrick’s Mental Health services — a group set up by writer Jonathan Swift 260 years ago.

* For further information log on to www.stpatrickshosp.ie or contact the St Patrick’s medic-staffed help-line between 9am and 5pm on 01-249-3200.