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St. Patrick’s & Trinity College Dublin Formally Join Forces
St. Patrick’s & Trinity College Dublin Formally Join Forces
St. Patrick’s University Hospital, the leading independent provider of mental healthcare in Ireland, formally celebrated their association with Trinity College Dublin on November 20th. At Founders Day, the revived annual conference day event, the relationship between Trinity College Dublin and the Hospital was cemented with St. Patrick’s establishing its university status. The relationship between the two establishments goes back many years.
Prof. James Lucey, Medical Director said “Swift himself was a Trinity man. He established St. Patrick’s, the first mental health service in Ireland, on this site while working in collaboration with many of his compatriots who were doing the same thing in general medicine and in obstetrics. Dr. Steevens and his sister built the first purpose built medical hospital next door to this hospital. In 1745 they linked these two hospitals. They recognised that mental health care and medicine needed to be closely aligned. Indeed for many years a door was available between Dr. Steevens and St. Patrick’s Hospital to provide for the ready link between the two services. Today we are widening that door and putting a sign above it linking St. Patrick’s University Hospital with the Medical School. In the same year 1745 Bartholomew Moss opened the first hospital The Rotunda Hospital, dedicated to women’s health in Europe. These men and women were pioneers. They were true patriots of Ireland. They established a great legacy; the nucleus of a health service in Dublin. A nucleus that went on to form the basis for Trinity College Medical School. St. Patrick’s was part of this the beginning. I am proud to say that today it is a very important part of it.”
Dr. John Hegarty, Provost of Trinity College Dublin and Prof. Dermot Kelleher attended the formal inauguration and both speakers stressed the very close links between the hospital and the college and the great benefits provided to both. Prof James Lucey continued “This is a relationship of mutual benefit and one which we hope will prosper even more. We look forward to developing our relationship with TCD and indeed with the wider coalition of mental health care in Ireland.”
Founders Day attracted health care professionals/practitioners and students from across Ireland and provided a forum to discuss topics of interest to all health care professionals with an interest in Mental Health. Paul Gilligan CEO of St. Patrick’s welcomed the new formal association with Trinity College. St. Patrick’s University Hospital was founded by Jonathan Swift because he recognised the absolute need for specialised mental health services. Today that need is greater than ever. St Patrick’s exists to provide the highest quality of mental health services to promote mental health and to advocate for those who suffer from mental illness.
Tales of Ballycumber
An invited presentation given by Professor JV Lucey, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at TCD and Medical Director of St Patrick's University Hospital Delivered before the production of a new play by Mr Sebastian Barry entitled TALES OF BALLYCUMBER
Tony Clare Memorial Garden opened by President Mary McAleese
The staff and patients of St. Patrick's University Hospital were delighted to welcome President Mary McAleese to St Edmundsbury Hospital in Lucan on Sept 10th when she officially opened the Tony Clare Memorial Garden.
Read more: Tony Clare Memorial Garden opened by President Mary McAleese
Mental Health Awareness Week 5th-10th October 2009
Stigma against Mental illness in Ireland still widespread say St. Patrick's University Hospital.
Coinciding with World Mental Health Day this Saturday St. Patrick's University Hospital revealed the results of a recent national survey which examined attitudes and perceptions towards mental illness in Ireland.
A disturbing finding is that over a third of people surveyed believe that those suffering from mental health problems are of below average intelligence. A further third of respondents stated that they would not willingly accept someone with a mental health problem as a close friend. 40% would discriminate against hiring someone with a history of mental illness on the grounds that they may be unreliable and 40% felt that undergoing treatment for a mental health problem is a sign of personal failure.
The survey was fielded nationwide to 187 members of the public and additional insights were gained via focus groups conducted in Leinster. The survey has a 95% confidence rating and a +/- 6% margin of error.
Paul Gilligan, CEO of St. Patrick's, says "Stigma remains a major hurdle for people accessing mental health services. It is a sad fact that because of this stigma many sufferers feel embarrassment and shame and are reluctant to seek appropriate supports. It is vital that more is done to educate and inform people about mental illness in Ireland".
St. Patrick's is launching two information leaflets to mark World Mental Health Day.
Managing Your Mental Health in Difficult Times
Recognising Eating Disorders is aimed at teachers and parents and can be obtained through the Hospital website www.stpatrickshosp.ie. Schools seeking hard copies for distribution can contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Managing Your Mental Health in Difficult Times is directed to the General Public. Again, copies can be obtained through the Hospital website or through the email address.
The survey confirmed that exposure to mental health problems is very widespread with 52% of respondents claiming that a close member of their family (parent, child, brother, sister) has been treated, 66% stating that close friends have been treated, and 60% confirming they have worked with someone who has been treated for emotional or mental health problems. Despite this frequency, due to the prevailing stigma only a small number of those affected seek help, turning first to family, friends, or the internet, and a much smaller number initially consulting their General Practitioner.
Medical Director Professor Jim Lucey says, "it is vital that people seek help early. Our emphasis is to help people to manage their illness and promote skills to reduce mental health problems in the future. We need to understand and accept mental illness, but this cannot be done while this stigma looms large."
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