Mental health services - We cannot renege on reform plan

SOME of the facilities we offer to people with mental health issues seem as likely to exacerbate illness as to contribute to recovery.

The inspector of Mental Health Services, Pat Devitt has told us that two wards at St Loman’s in Mullingar, were “unfit for human habitation. Others were “dilapidated, desolate and depressing”. In St Ita’s, in Dublin, rooms stank of urine. St Brendan’s, also in Dublin, broke more than half of the care regulations.

Mr Devitt reminded us of what we too easily put to the back of our minds – we tolerate mental health service practices we would find unacceptable should we, or a relative, need to turn to them. This challenges us all but, thankfully, it is just one side of the coin.