New acute unit for Letterkenny - Keaveney

Included in the HSE’s capital programme for mental health in 2010 are 2 Acute Admission Units, one of which will be based in Letterkenny. This is an important service for the county, according to Senator Cecilia Keaveney.

"Minister John Moloney has been tireless in his drive to have 'A Vision for Change' the policy document on Mental Health, fully implemented. He has secured funding of 50 million euros that will ensure that plans now become realities. One such move, amongst a number of other key projects, will be the delivery of the Acute Admissions Unit for Letterkenny.

Mental Health issues can affect any of us at any stage in our lives and often the thoughts of us revert to the old Victorian institution-type scenario. The proposed new units will aim, according to the Minister to cease that notion as early as possible. Modernising the infrastructure is central to the mental health development plan.

I have had people respond to me after they, or a family member was involved in the need for an acute setting that they wanted to see the infrastructure brought into a more bright, a more positive sense than the rather depressing, in itself setting, that they had experienced.

Therefore the opening of the new acute unit at Letterkenny will bring us significantly closer to providing a modern mental health service infrastructure physically. It will end the reliance, nationally, on old and inappropriate accommodation.

I continue to work with Minister Moloney to try to look 'beyond the box' in mental health provision. To this end I would like to see us make more strides in recognising professionally the creative art therapies, particularly Music Therapy.

There are many people doing excellent work in the Mental Health sphere throughout the North West. I am sure that seeing investment and the delivery of 'A Vision For Change' will further encourage them on their work and efforts on all our behalfs" concluded Senator Cecilia Keaveney.