Donegal without access to mental health rehabilitation team


The Mental Health Commission says the mental health rehabilitation service provided in Donegal is completely inadequate.
A new report shows that only half of the population have access to a mental health rehabilitation team.
Government mental health policy recommended that 48 teams are needed across the country, there are only 23 – with none in Donegal.
A regional report on mental health rehabilitation and recovery teams in Donegal has concluded that the rehabilitation service provided does not serve the needs of people with serious and enduring mental illness.
The Mental Health Commission says there are no staff apart from a small number of nursing and healthcare assistants and a request for four additional posts has been put forward in the 2019 estimates however, there is said to be difficulties in attracting consultant psychiatrists to take up posts in the area.
The report also highlights that there has been no comprehensive training of these staff in rehabilitation and recovery and other appropriate therapies and that there difficulties with recruitment of staff again, due to location and the absence of an established, well-funded team; however, there are cross-border links which do provide a number of services.
The report states that it is clear that there has to be creative thinking in providing a comprehensive rehabilitation service across CHO 1.
The commission says it would be possible to attract well-trained and skilled staff if there was a move to provide rehabilitation service of excellence across the whole CHO.
Regional Report
Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher says the Mental Health Commission’s report is damning and says unless action is taken by the Government, they will have a crisis on their hands:

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