Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the important issue of early intervention in psychosis. This issue arises out of a number of Government strategies and research that has taken place over the last ten to 15 years. Psychosis is an illness that affects 5% of our population. It involves detachment from reality and often leads to schizophrenia. Approximately 75,000 people in this country suffer from psychosis.

The DETECT project serves Dublin and the south-east region. It aims to reduce the period of undetected psychosis to the minimum possible time. Usually there is a delay of about two years in the detection of psychosis. The challenge is to shorten this to six months, in line with international best practice. If that is done, the chances of recovery are significantly heightened.

DETECT is a new multi-agency approach to early detection. Funding comes from the HSE but it is only 10% of what is required. The balance is being provided by the St. John of God Brothers. The HSE has provided a minimal amount of funding but statistics show there are 1,000 new cases of psychosis every year. People with psychosis are at extremely high risk of suicide; the rate is 25 times higher than in the general population. It is also a widely-known fact that this illness most commonly affects young people. Everybody is keen to reduce the incidence of suicide as it is the main cause of death among the young population.

These facts are lamented widely, and rightly so. However, according to research, there is a solution. It is early intervention and means providing services at a very early stage of psychosis. In Norway, psychosis is, on average, detected six months after a first episode; in Ireland, it takes two years. For so long as that remains the case, only crocodile tears will be shed for those who are suffering from psychosis.

I can give an example of the gap in the service. A parent telephoned DETECT from Shankill in County Dublin. She expressed her concern about her son's behaviour. Teenagers can be moody and it is sometimes hard for a parent to distinguish between a moody teenager and early evidence of psychosis. It is mainly young males who suffer from this illness. DETECT told her it could do little for her and recommended that she go to her general practitioner. However, many general practitioners in Ireland know nothing about the illness. In addition, it would be extremely difficult for this mother to persuade her son to visit a general practitioner because of a perceived mental illness.

The key is to provide funding to extend the pilot scheme, DETECT. Over three years it will cost approximately €15 million to roll out a proper programme. DETECT can reduce the stigma associated with attending services for mental illness. For example, in the CSPE course in secondary school, pupils are presented with information about physical illnesses they could suffer as teenagers but there is no information on mental illnesses. This huge gap adds to the stigma and fear associated with engaging with available services for mental illnesses. DETECT must be established on a national basis and the programme must be given the resources to provide information, inpatient care and treatment in the community. I urge the Minister of State to seriously consider these matters.

See this speech in context