Concerns raised about mental health services in County Roscommon
The Strokestown area does not have primary care counselling services.
Concerns were raised about mental health services in the county at the recent meeting of the HSE West Regional Health Forum. It heard that the Strokestown area does not have primary care counselling services.
Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Moylan asked a number of written questions about services in the middle and north of the county.
He asked the HSE to outline the availability of primary care counselling services in Castlerea and its surrounding areas, particularly for patients without a medical card, and whether there were plans to expand access to affordable mental health supports for this cohort of people?
In response, the HSE said at present, it provides services in Roscommon town, Boyle and Castlerea for counselling in primary care (CIPC), adverse childhood experience support (ACS), and mother and baby home counselling. CIPC is a model designed to support individuals experiencing mild to moderate psychological concerns. This service currently operates under a medical card model, and referrals are made via a GP.
ACS is a self-referral service for individuals with a history of adverse childhood experiences, while mother and baby home counselling is also a self-referral service, available to those who were residents of a mother and baby home.
“These services aim to provide targeted psychological support appropriate to each client group, ensuring access is as straightforward as possible depending on the referral pathway,” the HSE said. “At present, the waiting times for assessment for these services are between 4/5 weeks.” He also sought the same information for the Strokestown area, and was informed that at present, the HSE does not have any counselling services in the Strokestown area.
“Clients with an address in the Strokestown region would be advised that we have services in Roscommon Town, Boyle, Castlerea or on-line. Clients are asked which waiting list they would like to be placed on, or on-line,” said the HSE.
Cllr Moylan said that the clients’ lived experience of mental health services was not as positive as the HSE’s responses suggested. He asked whether there were vacancies in the services, and the HSE promised to revert with that information.
