The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland recent Winter Conference attracted one of the highest number of delegates to their conferences since the College inception in 2009. Over 350 delegates attended the annual two day event which took place in the Killashee House Hotel conference centre in Kildare with numbers reaching almost 300 on the first day and 245 on the second day.

The contents of the reports published by the Mental Health Commission this week once again emphasise the lack of physical and staff resources available to vulnerable people with mental illness. The reports support the experience of frontline psychiatrists that progress on the full introduction of the national policy ‘A Vision for Change’ remains uneven and slow.

More than 50% of people caring for someone had a significant mental health issue due mostly to their caring role according to a 2009 extensive survey undertaken jointly by the College of Psychiatrists and the Carer’s Association of Ireland. Of those who stated they had a mental health issue, depression and anxiety were the most prominent as those identified by their doctor.

Held last week in Cork, 262 delegates attended the 6th annual spring conference of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland over two days. The programme included stimulating presentations from international and national speakers as well as a suite of parallel interactive sessions on varied but up to date topics. Attendees were across all specialties and grades in psychiatry including interns and members of the College REFOCUS group (Recovery Experience Forum of Cares and Users of Services).

The annual CPsychI NCHD conference took place recently in the Hilton Hotel, Kilmainham, in Dublin, and was a great success, with a high turnout of 90 Trainee Psychiatrists and NCHDs.