The publication of a
A Strategy for the Development of Psychological Therapy
Services is welcome, but the Royal College of Psychiatrists in
Northern Ireland has warned that without proper funding it cannot
be fully implemented, resulting in people with mental health
problems here continuing to miss out on therapies that can turn
their lives around.
When the strategy was issued for consultation
in early 2009, the Health Minister committed £7 million of
recurring funding to develop a spectrum of psychological therapies
for all age groups and for varying levels of need. That has now
been cut to £4.4 million and it is unclear whether this money is
ring fenced and how it will be targeted.
Dr Maria O'Kane, Policy Officer for the Royal
College of Psychiatrists in Northern Ireland, said: "This is an
excellent document, but we have to see it translated into services,
and £4.4 million is not enough money to do that.
"The strategy recommends that in Northern
Ireland 340 additional practitioners are required to deliver
psychological therapies to meet the standards recommended by NICE
(The National Institute for Clinical Excellence). In addition,
those staff who are trained must be given adequate time to deliver
treatment.
"It is very difficult for people in Northern
Ireland to access psychological treatment. This then has resulted
in a heavy reliance on medication. As psychiatrists, we want to
offer patients therapeutic alternatives that are proven to be
effective at helping people to live full lives, whatever their
mental health problem.
"The bill for antidepressant drugs in Northern
Ireland last year was £18 million. That’s more than twice the per
capita spend on antidepressant medication in England. The
Government in England has recognised the strong economic case for
investing £170 million per year in psychological therapies which
enables adults with mental health problems to return to, or stay
in, work."
In Northern Ireland, the total cost to
employers of mental ill health is £745 million per year. Around 40%
of Incapacity Benefit claims in Northern Ireland relate to mental
health problems.
Dr O'Kane said: "We recognise there are
constraints on the health budget, but we believe this cut is not
only a false economy, but deprives people of the treatments that
should be available."
For further information, please
contact:
Liz Leicester
or Deborah Hart in the Communications
Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
References:
A Strategy for the Development of Psychological Therapy Services in Northern Ireland was launched by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey on 7 June 2010
Note to editors:
A Strategy for the Development of Psychological Therapy Services in Northern Ireland was launched by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey on 7 June 2010