Ca he rs ive en centre boost for mental health service
May 1995
THE opening of a training centre for people with psychiatric illnesses in Cahersiveen has been a major milestone in the provision of a comprehensive mental health service for the entire Iveragh area, according to the Southern Health Board.
Members of the Psychiatric Services Committee of the Health Board have visited Cahersiveen District Hospital and the new Training Centre which caters exclusively for people suffering from psychiatric illnesses.
Thirteen patients have been transferred from St Finan’s Hospital in Killarney to Cahersiveen where they will be integrated into the community as well as benefiting from the new training centre.
Psychiatric Services Committee Chairman, CUr Tommy Foley, told The Kerryman that the transfer of the patients from St Finan’s to Cahersiveen was achieved with the utmost goodwill of the people of the town.
“The people of Cahersiveen have been tireless in the fundraising efforts to build the centre,” he said.
Cllr Foley said this local involvement shows that the people of the area see the need for the establishment of a training centre such as this.
“The days of putting people with psychiatric illnesses into one big institution are gone. With the closure of St Finan’s, these people are being returned to their local communities and looked after there,” he said.
The 13 patients who have been transferred from St Finan’s to Cahersiveen spend their day at the training centre where they are taught different skills such as gardening. In the evening time, they return to their families.
“In the case of some patients having no family left, they, along with other patients, are housed together in a high support hostel. By doing this, the patients enjoy coming to the centre in the morning and returning home again to their families or the hostel in the evening,” he said.
Southern Health Board and Psychiatric Services Committee member, Deputy John O’Donoghue congratulated the people of Cahersiveen and the catchment area for their financial contribution in establishing the centre.
He said the people of Cahersiveen have been very generous in the past and have raised funds to purchase a defibrillator for the local ambulance.
The building ot the training centre was a significant advance in the provision of a comprehensive mental health service for the entire Iveragh area,” he said.