‘Island is failing the mentally ill’
Friday 19th December 2008, 2:29PM GMT.
ISLANDERS with long-term mental health problems have been let down, according to outgoing director of public health Dr David Jeffs.
Reacting to a report on the adult acute mental health service, Dr Jeffs (pictured) said more needed to be done.
‘I think the one part of the population we have really let down is those with enduring mental health problems,’ he said. ‘There are 300-400 people who have been in and out of the Castel Hospital and Albecq Ward.
‘We have been trying to recruit top-grade psychiatrists and we try to set the remuneration and offer the top-grade package. In terms of providing the top-quality care, I really feel we have failed those people with ongoing mental health problems.’
Recruiting staff also needed the help of other departments, he said.
‘It really now depends on the public sector to get the top staff. We need to offer more than they have been prepared to.’
Dr Jeffs said that it was not down to Health to provide an up-to-date mental health law, which was approved in 2002 – it now was the responsibility of the Law Officers and the Privy Council.
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i think it is appalling that doctors are only allowed to refer in severe cases. I know a lot of people who self medicate with spice and the illegal equivalentor alcohol or whom are palmed off with diazepam or equally hard anti depressants with no treatment. Anti depressants are only a plaster on a problem, the problem with still be there unless it gets treatment.
I know someone whos anorexic and severe depressant and there is no help unless it swings to the extreme….
I was shocked to realise just how many of the friends of people i know are turning to self medication becoz of a lack of mental health care and prevention/ treatment rather than doping them up and hoping they’ll come good some day
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