Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 27 June 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care

Early Intervention and Talk Therapy: Discussion

1:30 pm

Photo of Marcella Corcoran KennedyMarcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the witnesses for attending. My first question is to Dr. Barry. Has he seen an increase in the levels of anxiety and depression in children and young adults since the advent of increased use of smartphones? Would smartphone usage factor into his assessment of a child or would he look at familial issues such as break-up and so on? Also, does he believe that alcohol abuse or misuse can cause a person to slide into mental illness?

Ms Manahan said that psychologists and psychiatrists are not trained in psychotherapy. Why is that and has the ICP engaged with the HSE's director of mental health services on the issue? We have been hearing of significant challenges in the recruitment of psychologists yet Ms Manahan said there are 1,500 psychotherapists here looking for work, which would indicate there is a breakdown in the system.

Ms O'Flaherty spoke about Healthy Ireland and its implementation across Government and society. On the healthy workplaces, given we spend on average eight hours a day at work, what type of programmes has the Department put in place to help people to develop and maintain their mental health and does it provide gatekeeper-type training in that regard?

On NEPS and the statement that no talk therapy is provided, how is this squared when critical incident supports are needed? Why does NEPS comprise psychiatrists and psychologists and not psychotherapists, such that there is no provision of talk therapy?

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