Mental health in Ireland

Mental health in the Republic of Ireland is the subject of state and community sector intervention in Ireland. The Irish state devolves responsibility for mental health to the Department of Health. Community groups and charities also provide support in the prevention and management of mental illness as well as suicide prevention.

Government strategy

As of 2022^[update], the Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People is Mary Butler, TD.^[1] Health services are delivered by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

National Suicide Research Foundation

The National Suicide Research Foundation leads research on the topic of suicidology.^[2]

Non-governmental organisations

A number of non-governmental organizations have historically been involved in delivery of health and educational services, including by religious orders and congregations. The impact of mental health services has been highlighted by research and media reports in recent decades,^{[when?][citation needed]} and a number of organisations have been created to deal with the area.

Amen

Amen (amen.ie) is a charity based in Navan, County Meath,^[3][4][5] which works with male victims of domestic violence. It dealt with over 3,600 contacts in 2009.^[6][7][8] The organisation was awarded a People of the Year Award^[9] and a GSK Ireland IMPACT Award in 2016.^[10][11]

Aware

Aware is a voluntary organisation which aims to assist people affected by depression. It was founded in 1985 by a group of patients, relatives and health professionals.

Console

Console was a charity that offered suicide bereavement services including a 24/7 Suicide Helpline, Suicide Bereavement Liaison Service and a Suicide Bereavement Counselling Service.^{[12][13][14][15]} Its founder, Paul Kelly, received a People of the Year Awards, award in 2014.^[13] Reports emerged in 2016 that the charity was mismanaged and the charity closed.^{[13][16][12][17]} Campaigner David Hall was appointed interim CEO during the winding-down process.^[18] A national Charities Regulator was appointed in the same year.^[19]

Cycle Against Suicide

Cycle Against Suicide is an organisation that seeks to raise awareness and bring support to those dealing with mental health issues.^[20] A compilation album Simple Things was released in 2013 for the charity.^[21][22][23]

Men's sheds

Main article: Men's shed

The Irish Association of Men's Sheds is a non-profit organization which promotes good mental health through creating sheds for men to meet and create projects in.^[24] Projects, as varied as woodwork, electronics and jam-making, are chosen by the participants. The organisation was awarded a People of the Year Award. More than 10,000 men use over 300 sheds.^[24]

Nightline

Nightline is the name given to various confidential and anonymous overnight listening, emotional support, information, and supplies services, run by students for students at universities around the world. Individual Nightlines are autonomous organisations, but are affiliated to the Nightline Association, which is an umbrella organisation founded to facilitate cooperation between Nightlines in the UK and Ireland.^[25]

Pieta House

Pieta House deals with suicide prevention and counselling for those bereaved by suicide.^[15] The annual Darkness into Light event at locations across Ireland and the world act as a fundraiser for the charity.^[26]

Other organisations

The Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God have run institutions in Ireland since 1882.^[27] The Samaritans charity also runs a helpline for suicide prevention. SOSAD ("Save Our Sons And Daughters") Ireland is a suicide prevention and bereavement agency which was set up in 2006.^[28] International organisations such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous operate in Ireland. The Rutland Centre, founded by recovering alcoholic Mary Bolton treats addicts of gambling, narcotics and alcohol.^[29]

Youth mental health

Jigsaw is the National Centre for Youth Mental Health.^[30] ReachOut.com deals with young people aged 12 to 25. (Previously 15 to 25) Ireland|Childline]] runs a helpline and online chat service for those under 18.^[31] BodyWhys offers online support centring on eating disorder issues.^[31] Children at Risk In Ireland (CARI) is an organisation that primarily provides therapy and counselling to victims of child sexual abuse.^[32][33][34]

Mental health among males

At this current time^[when?] in Ireland, there is a push to nullify the stigma towards mental health and raise awareness of the widespread epidemic of mental health issues among males (over four in five suicides in Ireland are male) ^[35]

See also

• Healthcare in the Republic of Ireland
• Suicide in Ireland

References

1. Health (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 394 of 2020). Signed on 22 September 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
2. D'Arcy, Ciarán (1 June 2016). "Data on suicides nationwide reveals sharp differences". Irish Times. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
3. Casey, Patricia (14 July 2015). "Domestic Abuse: 'It is not a women's issue and it is not a men's issue. It's a human problem'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
4. O'Morain, Padraig (29 January 2015). "That's Men: How men should respond to violence by women in the home". Irish Times. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
5. Brady, Sasha (9 March 2017). "Comment: Fair City had a real opportunity with its all-female episode, but the end product was just insulting". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
6. "Report highlights violence against men". IrishHealth.com. 6 September 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
7. Molloy, Dave (19 June 2015). "Amen's support kept me alive, says man who escaped domestic violence". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
8. Devine, Catherine (24 December 2016). "'I'd cry looking at pictures of him and wish he was with me' – Single dads' heartbreak on not spending Christmas with their kids". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
9. O'Connor, Wayne (4 December 2016). "People of the Year:Robbie Keane, O'Donovans and Annalise Murphy honoured". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
10. "Do you know a small healthcare charity making an impact in the Wicklow community". Wicklow News. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
11. "Awards programme seeks applications from 'unsung' Offaly health charities Justin Kelly". Offaly Express. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
12. McGarry, Patsy (7 July 2016). "Decision taken to shut down scandal-hit charity Console". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
13. O’Regan, Eilish (2 July 2016). "Console scandal: Elaborate web of deceit of an 'untouchable' charity founder". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
14. . Console. Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
15. Hilliard, Mark (15 July 2016). "Pieta House takes over Console suicide bereavement services". Irish Times. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
16. Healy, Tim (1 July 2016). "Further investigations into Console charity bring to light transactions between its sister organisation in the UK, court hears". irish Independent. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
17. "HSE found out Console charity status was withdrawn through media reports". TheJournal.ie. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
18. "Court grants access to storage unit linked to former Console boss". RTÉ.ie. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
19. Cullen, Paul (6 July 2016). "Console controversy: Criminal investigation opens into charity". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
20. "Cycle Against Suicide". 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
21. Kierans, Marie (19 April 2017). "Internet sensation Orla Gartland lines up Irish & UK tour". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
22. "Bressie reaches out on Saturday Night Show". RTÉ. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
23. "Cycle Against Suicide album launched". RTÉ. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
24. O'Halloran, Marie (5 December 2017). "Paul O'Connell wins at the People of the Year awards". Irish Times. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
25. "About Nightlines". Nightline.ac.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
26. Ruxton, Dean (7 May 2016). "'More than 120,000' take part in Darkness into Light walk". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
27. "Supplement to the Commercial Gazette". Commercial Gazette. 6 June 1894. p. 356. Retrieved 9 June 2017. 
28. "Civil Service Charities Fund". CivilServiceCharitiesFund.ie. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
29. https://www.northernsound.ie/helplines
30. McSorley, Anita. "Record-breaking Irish sports hero Gavan Hennigan named youth mental health ambassador". Irish Mirror.
31. O'Sullivan, Claire (30 March 2017). "#TeenMentalHealth Report Day 1: The things that are wrecking teenager's heads". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
32. "CARI – Shining a Light for Children". CARI.ie.
33. McGlynn, Michelle (31 May 2022). "Child sex abuse charity's waiting list for support services doubles". IrishExaminer.com.
34. "Average age of child sex abuser is just 26". IrishExaminer.com. 9 October 2013.
35. Foundation, N. S. R., 2017. National Suicide Research Foundation. [Online]^{[not specific enough to verify]}