Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
help can depend on a number of health beliefs such as the
perceived need for help, the perceived efficacy of treatment and the
barriers and facilitators to seeking help.
There is an evident need to develop new models of support for
persons experiencing psychological distress – many of these could
be informal and inexpensive, operating at individual (recognition
and ownership of stress / distress), interpersonal (seeking informal
support from family, friends) and societal (development of social
capital in communities) levels in a wide range of situational contexts
(schools, homes, resident associations). Individuals and
communities need to be provided with strategies aimed at reducing
or coping with psychological distress so as to reduce the chances of
symptoms reaching diagnostic criteria. This would, of course,
reduce the chances of the symptoms requiring formal health care
services.
With regard to formal supports, this survey has highlighted the
important role the GP plays in the assessment and treatment of
mental health problems. GPs are often the first and only port of call
for those seeking help and are also the primary gatekeepers to
specialised mental health services. These findings raise a number of
important issues relating to the assessment and treatment of both
short-term mental health problems to more enduring mental health
problems within the primary care setting. There is a need for
training in mental health care for GPs and those working within the
primary care setting. Importantly, there is a need for mental health
professionals within the primary care network who can provide a
range of psychological therapies. And finally, the interface between
primary care and secondary mental health services needs to be
evaluated so there is a continuity of care for those who require
specialised mental health services.
The survey has highlighted a number of important issues in relation
to psychological distress. As in other European countries, the extent
of psychological distress needs to be acknowledged, not only at the
societal level but also at the individual and interpersonal level. The
acknowledgement that psychological distress is a part of Irish life
will reduce the stigma surrounding mental health problems.
There is a need for individuals and communities to be provided with
strategies that can help alleviate or reduce psychological distress.
These strategies can be provided within a range of situational
contexts, such as schools, community groups and employment
settings, ensuring that a variety of audiences is reached. Mental
health care policy and service planners should acknowledge the
need for early detection and treatment, ensuring that as many
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