Primary Mental Health Care Part 1: A Critical Review of the Irish System| Stephy Publishers
Abstract
Primary mental health care is an
evolving system, in need of regular revision and requiring innovative and
creative adjustments in order to provide the public with an easily accessible
and appropriate level and type of service, based on best practice and evidence.
This paper is the first in a series of three exploring primary mental health
care. The Irish model of care, ‘Counselling in Primary Care’, is presented as
well as a number of short-comings associated with that model. The short-comings
include eligibility criteria governing access, limitations of service as well
as waiting lists; and the medicalization of service delivery.
Keywords: Mental health, Counselling, Primary care
Introduction Acknowledging the
need to update Irish mental health policy and service delivery in 2003, the
Department of Health and Children (DoHC) commissioned a national policy
framework to guide the modernization of mental health services in Ireland. The
framework, detailed in a policy document referred to as “A Vision for Change”
(AVFC)1 set forth guidance on the implementation of the new mental health
system to be launched and rolled out over the next decade. Central to the need
for change in service delivery was the lack of standardized care for people
with mental health concerns in Ireland. Emphasis within AVFC was placed on
early intervention and coordinated services within the Health Service Executive
(HSE). A core element of the policy was the collaboration (or shared-care)
between the general practitioner (GP) within primary care and mental health
teams within secondary mental health care.2 One role of the GP, therefore, was
to act as ‘gatekeeper’ to mental health professionals and specialist services
where the GP would ‘...detect and diagnose mental health difficulties and
either treat the individual or refer him/her to specialist services’.3
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