Mental health now a ‘crisis in general practice’

The crisis in mental health has become a crisis in general practice, says the Irish College of General Practitioners.

Dr Brian Osborne, director of the ICGP’s mental health programme, told an Oireachtas committee that GPs are the first port of call for many people experiencing mental health difficulties.

More than 90% of mental health care takes place in a general practice setting — around a third of consultations with family doctors include a “mental health component”.