‘Island is in danger of failing its mentally ill’
Thursday 26th February 2009, 2:55PM GMT.
A MENTAL health masterplan is needed to ensure that Jersey does not fall dangerously behind in providing modern facilities for patients and staff, according to a retired senior Health civil servant.
Geoff Esnouf, who recently stepped down after 37 years working at St Saviour’s Hospital, warns that complacency and lack of action could cost the Island dearly.
He says that without concerted planning and investment, the Island could fall as far behind acceptable international standards as it did in the 1970s, when St Saviour’s Hospital was little better than a Victorian lunatic asylum.
Mr Esnouf is particularly frustrated with what he describes as a lack of progress on the introduction of new provisions for mentally disordered offenders and the management of curatorships under which the affairs of the mentally ill are looked after.
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There is a masterplan … Senator Perchard has already indicated that spending on psychological services will be cut.
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Given the latest evidence that sleep problems can cause (rather than just be a symptom of) many mental illnesses, and given how society just continues to press on blindly towards being 24-hr to the extent that most primary school kids no longer get anywhere near the required amount of sleep, this problem is going to get a lot worse.
On top of services we need to be educating people as to why something so basic like sleep is important. We need to educate businesses as to why sleep (and rest) are so important and improve efficiency and productivity. The services will cost money, the education side of it can be preventative and not anywhere near as costly.
Services will always be required but prevention (or limitation) through education is critical if we genuinely want to make a difference to mental health problems.
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