Stigma
It’s LGBT Pride month and there are many reasons to celebrate, but where stigma, bullying and mental health are concerned, we still have a long way to go. It’s the 25th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland, and 3 years since marriage equality and the commencement of the Gender Recognition Act. Just this […]
We spoke to CPsychI REFOCUS member (Recovery Experience Forum of Carers and Users of Services) Laura Louise Condell who has been a member of the committee since 2016. She is also the the coordinator of the Dublin Lesbian Line which focuses on supporting women of the LGBT+ community. We sat down with her to talk mental illness, mental […]
REFOCUS discussed Trainee Induction, Green Ribbon month and stigma of mental illness on families recently at their second meeting of 2018. The College REFOCUS (Recovery Experience Forum of Carers and Users of Services) committee held a meeting on June 8th 2018. Through regular meetings and sub group meetings REFOCUS debates issues, writes papers, presents at […]
Are we tuned in?…to Men’s mental Distress? We asked Dr Miriam Kennedy Consultant Psychiatrist and Director of Communication and Public Education to reflect on how society could take that ‘one small step’ and encourage men to talk openly and honestly about their mental health, following International Men’s Health Week 2018. One of my earliest memories […]
There is a greater openness about mental health generally, but for medical professionals the taboo remains. This article, written by Clare Gerada, appeared online at the Guardian on 06.06.18. The charity Mind has found that almost half of all patients consulting their general practitioner do so for problems with their mental health, such as anxiety and […]
Dr Sean Naughton considers the troubled history of the Psychiatric profession and the LGBT community. (December 2017) Through advocacy, civil action, and the support of the wider population, the LGBT community has made great strides in recent decades to resolve the historical prejudices and marginalisation to which they have been subjected. Much work remains to be […]
The College ran the ‘Living Library’ this May for Green Ribbon Month with See Change. By starting the conversation in the outdoors the College aimed to challenge the stigma of speaking about mental health difficulties and to encourage an important mantra ‘Don’t Judge A Book by Its Cover’. When it comes to mental health everyone has […]
A REFOCUS committee member wrote this letter to the Editor of the The Irish Times. It discusses prisoners and mental illness, 28.05.18. Sir, In its submission to an Oireachtas committee, the Irish Penal Reform Trust point to an increase from 3 per cent to close to 8 per cent in the incidence of severe mental illness […]
A letter to Ireland from someone with schizophrenia – A reflection on engagement with, judgment and perception of those who experience health mental difficulties. This is particularly poignant with it being Green Ribbon month, the month that aims to reduce stigma of mental illness. […]
James Fogarty reports for the Medical Independent from the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland Spring Conference 2018. Physician suicide is catastrophic for not only the individual doctor’s family and friends, but also for their patients, the Spring Meeting of the College of Psychiatrists was told. At the meeting, which was held in Athlone, Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Justin […]