COMMUNITY INTEGRATION
OF
MENTAL HEALTH TEAM
Dr.Lorcan Martin, Consultant Psychiatrist
INTRODUCTION
• Despite progress in treatment of Mental
illness, stigma remains
• Marked lack of access to clear, reliable
information
• Multi-faceted approach needed
• 4 specific areas initially identified in
sector covered by Athlone Community
Mental Health Team (pop ≈ 30,000;
urban/rural)
PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED
Lack of Knowledge
& Awareness
Difficulty
Accessing &
Reluctance to
Attend
Equity for Deaf
Persons
Lack of Service
User Involvement
SOLUTIONS
Mental Health
Awareness
Programme
Difficulty
Accessing &
Reluctance to
Attend
Equity for Deaf
Persons
Lack of Service
User Involvement
SOLUTIONS
Mental Health
Awareness
Programme
Primary Care
Consultation
Liaison Service
Equity for Deaf
Persons
Lack of Service
User Involvement
SOLUTIONS
Mental Health
Awareness
Programme
Primary Care
Consultation
Liaison Service
MHS for Deaf
Service Users
Lack of Service
User Involvement
SOLUTIONS
Mental Health
Awareness
Programme
Primary Care
Consultation
Liaison Service
MHS for Deaf
Service Users
Consultative
Group
MH AWARENESS PROGRAMME
•
•
•
•
2-year programme
Held in local hotel
Advertised in local media
Format
– Short presentation
– Q & A session
– Discussion
– Refreshments
• Topics varied - not just disorders
PRIMARY CARE CONSULTATION
LIAISON SERVICE
• Weekly sessions by Consultant Psychiatrist
& CMHN in 2 Primary Care Setting
• Clients/appointments set by GP
• Full access to Mental Health Team
• Wide range of psychopathology seen
• Clients seen and discharged faster
• Waiting lists reduced
MHS FOR DEAF SERVICE USERS
• Partnership with National Association
for Deaf People (NAD)
• 5 members of Team trained in Sign
Language & Deaf Community culture
• MH Awareness Programme with NAD
• Clients now seen without interpreter
• Joint care with Social Worker from
NAD
CONSULTATIVE GROUP
•
•
•
•
•
Continuous group in partnership with MHT
Members represent varied age/gender/Dx
Training given to Chairperson/Secretary
MHT member not present at meetings
Chairperson represents group at
Management meetings
• Various issues addressed
• Peer support group
• Client survey
OTHER INITIATIVES
• MH Awareness programme and staff
training in local College
• Development of programme for clients
suffering from Eating Disorders
• Development of various training and
employment programmes
• Community events, eg fashion show, music
evenings
CONCLUSION
• More than 2 years required to remove
stigma and fully integrate MHS into
community
• However, first steps taken and results
seen
– Consistent and widespread support for
Awareness Programme
– Local media support
– Greater community involvement in MH related
activities
– Liaison with other agencies much improved