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

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<strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Nursing</strong> & <strong>Midwifery</strong>, <strong>Trinity</strong> College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research <strong>Conference</strong><br />

Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007<br />

<strong>Conference</strong> <strong>Proceedings</strong><br />

individuals are treated as soon as possible to prevent the symptoms<br />

from escalating unnecessarily.<br />

The important roles <strong>of</strong> the GP and the primary care network in the<br />

assessment and treatment <strong>of</strong> mental health problems need<br />

recognition. The development <strong>of</strong> primary care networks should<br />

provide a range <strong>of</strong> mental health pr<strong>of</strong>essionals who can be accessed<br />

by the GP. The most recent mental health policy document, A Vision<br />

for Change 2006, highlights many <strong>of</strong> these issues.<br />

The present survey has taken the first step <strong>of</strong> capturing and<br />

describing the reality <strong>of</strong> psychological distress in the Irish adult<br />

population, exploring its gender and age correlates, the formal and<br />

informal supports used and their perceived effectiveness. To date,<br />

population-based information on the prevalence and correlates <strong>of</strong><br />

psychological distress has been limited, as has information relating<br />

to the use <strong>of</strong> formal and informal supports. Successful policies and<br />

service planning need to be based on reliable and valid information.<br />

It is anticipated that the findings from this and future surveys will<br />

provide this important information. Further reports from this survey<br />

will focus on specific aspects <strong>of</strong> the survey data and will investigate<br />

the important correlates <strong>of</strong> psychological distress and service use. It<br />

is important that the findings are debated within an inter-sectoral<br />

arena so that appropriate responses for mental health care delivery<br />

can be developed.<br />

For a full report contact dtedtsonedoherty@hrb.ie or www.hrb.ie<br />

References<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Health and Children (2006) A Vision for Change:<br />

Report <strong>of</strong> the expert group on mental health policy. Dublin:<br />

Stationery Office.<br />

Ohayon et al. (2002) Use <strong>of</strong> psychotropic medication in the general<br />

population <strong>of</strong> France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.<br />

Journal <strong>of</strong> Clinical Psychiatry, 63(9): 817–825.<br />

The ESEMeD / MHEDEA 2000 Investigators (2004) Prevalence <strong>of</strong><br />

mental disorders in Europe. Psychiatr. Scand, 109(suppl. 420): 21–<br />

27.<br />

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