The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
NATIONAL AWARD FOR KERRY GP LEADING KEY RESEARCH IN HEALTHCARE DELIVERY
Dr Andrew O’Regan’s research into general practice comes as one in six patients present with mental health concerns to GPs
MODERN-DAY pressures are exerting such an emotional toll on the Irish that one in every six GP consultations now involves a mental health concern.
That’s one of the alarming revelations of a major new study of the state of modern medical general practice undertaken at the University of Limerick.
Its methodology, sampling and results were so wide-ranging and informative that it clinched one of the country’s top gongs for medical research.
And it was a Kerry man at the forefront of it all. Killarney-based GP Dr Andrew O’Regan, who led the research, said he and all on the UL team were ‘delighted’ with the recognition it represents.
As well as being a general practicitioner in Killarney, Dr O’Regan - a Killorglin native – is also senior lecturer in General Practice at the University of Limerick Graduate Entry Medical School (UL GEMS), where he carried out the research. Dr O’Regan was also a prominent figure nationally in the pro-life campaign in the run-up to the referendum. While the study reveals mental health problems running at epidemic levels, it is also seen as ground-breaking for showing just how vital GP care is when it comes to preventing serious illness and disease.
“We looked at what role exactly GPs play in examining their patients’ lifestyles to tackle habits harming patient health, and prevent serious illness,” Dr O’Regan told The Kerryman.
“And the research we carried out confirmed that GPs are fantastic when it comes to preventing so many serious conditions. The importance of GPs in recognising and managing lifestyle factors in our patients in relation to health is unique.”
In fact, the work suggests the country would greatly benefit if health policy came to place more emphasis on primary care.
“If adequately supported, general practice could lead the way in preventing very many physical and mental health conditions,” Dr O’Regan said.
The study encompassed an impressive sample of over 3,000 consultations nationwide. “We found that one in six involve a documented mental health condition,” he said.
“Someone might come to a GP with a physical complaint, but it becomes apparent quite quickly they are suffering with their mental health.”
Anxiety and depression were among the most common mental health issues identified. Alcohol looms in the background of many of the cases, meanwhile.
“Alcohol problems go hand-in-glove with mental health problems and, unfortunately, there are a whole host of physical illnesses that accompany mental health problems, as someone with mental health issues is likely to develop physical illness.”
But what factors are behind the alarming level of psychological pain today?
“It’s multi-faceted of course. A lot of mental health problems are related to the pressures people are under. Even though economically we are quite well off, people are under massive financial and work pressure; people seem to have less time to themselves and are under more strain than ever before.”
Is it for this reason GPs could play an even more important role in the delivery of healthcare. “There are lots of different models of healthcare. You can invest and invest in hospitals, but if you’re looking to the future look, at the value of general practice at addressing lifestyle problems to prevent illness and achieve the balance in the interplay between physical and mental health,” Dr O’Regan said.