Remarks at the official opening of the 2nd National Conference on Psychotherapy in Ireland
Dublin, 26th January 2012
A dhaoine uaisle, Dia dhaoibh go léir ar maidin. Tá an-áthas orm bheith anseo libh inniu i gCaisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath. Míle buíochas daoibh as an gcuireadh agus an fáilte a chuir sibh romham.
I am delighted to have been invited here today by the Irish Council for Psychotherapy to open the 2nd National Conference on Psychotherapy in Ireland. I would like to thank Maria McCarron for her kind invitation to join you all. The Council’s work in promoting and maintaining the highest standards of training and professional conduct amongst the profession is to be welcomed particularly as you strive to develop psychotherapy as an independent profession. It is clear from your conference programme that a great deal of time and effort has gone into devising a very stimulating two day event which offers an opportunity for all delegates to learn from, and contribute to, the work of many experts in the field of Psychotherapy both in Ireland and abroad.
The workshops and themes cover a huge range of contemporary experience. They are comprehensive, real and above all, compassionate, ranging from the consideration of suicide both in confluence and consequence to psychotherapy and spirituality.
I am very grateful indeed to have the welcome opportunity to address a conference such as this. I have been concerned for some time that many people, particularly young people, who experience mental ill-health are not accessing the help they need. During my Presidential campaign I committed to actively and vigorously promote positive measures to support mental health amongst all our citizens and to support those working to break down negative attitudes and discrimination towards people suffering from mental health problems.
Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities espouses respect for the inherent dignity and autonomy of persons living with mental problems, including the freedom to make one’s own choices. The principles go further and include full and effective participation in society, non-discrimination, and respect for diversity and the humanity of every person. These are principles that should apply universally to everyone but have in the past been denied to those experiencing mental illness, often restricting their inclusion in Irish society.
In fact, for many years in Ireland the stigma attached to those in life who suffered from mental health problems was enormous, leading to ignorance and cruelty in the way such people were treated. Persons who experienced mental illness were largely invisible within our society – sometimes denied their basic human rights and warehoused in institutions disconnected from the community, often abandoned and left at the periphery of our society. Thankfully, in recent years our understanding of mental health has developed significantly leading to an increased awareness and understanding of mental health challenges. However there is still much work to be done in this area and for many, mental illness remains shrouded in stereotypes and misunderstandings.
There is too insufficient evidence of different professional assumptions and boundaries giving way in the interests of the healing and belonging we need in our broken times.
The issue of access to listening to healing must not be a casualty to institutional or professional boundaries and it is past time that we moved on from old ideological ideas of the realms of brain and the complex realms of mind.
Research consistently shows that people’s attitudes towards mental health continue to cause unfair treatment, social exclusion and isolation of children and adults who are experiencing mental health problems. Many mentally ill people are still the victims of uninformed or distorted ideas that can lead to discrimination or negative attitudes, which can in turn exacerbate mental health difficulties, thereby further lowering self-esteem and increasing depression and anxiety. In fact, while barriers to treatment have been reduced in recent years, the embarrassment and stigmatism surrounding mental health breakdown continues to discourage many of our citizens from seeking help for distressing and debilitating mental health disorders.
In a modern and medically enlightened society people suffering from mental breakdown should not have to face the double edged sword of a distressing and disruptive illness combined with discrimination, shame and the negative public perceptions which can become internalised leading to resistance to seeking necessary and vital help. Stigma, of course, also affects the families of those suffering from mental ill-health and can be an obstacle to them in seeking the support they need. Lifting this stigma around mental health issues is crucial in tackling the anxiety and fear that so many feel about the issue, and in reducing the high rate of suicide.
Mar náisiún, tá dúshláin mhóra romhainn ach creidimse gur féidir linn saol na ndaoine sin a bhfuil fadhbanna sláinte intinne ag cur isteach orthu a fheabhsú trí chomhoibriú agus trínár n-iarrachtaí a chomhordú. Caitheann grúpaí ar nós Comhairle na hÉireann um Shíciteiripe go leor ama agus dua le dearcthaí diúltacha i leith na ndaoine sin atá ag fulaingt le meabhairghalar a athrú. Táimid ag tabhairt faoi deara go bhfuil athruithe ag teacht de réir a chéile i ndearcthaí agus in iompar daoine i leith fadhbanna sláinte intinne, agus a bhuíochas sin díbhse agus bhur leithéidí. Ciallaíonn sin nach bhfuil drogall ar dhaoine anois cúram agus tacaíocht a lorg ó dhaoine oilte a bheidh in ann iad a threorú trí laethanta dorcha an dúlagair, na himní, an éadóchais agus smaointe an fhéinmharaithe.
[As a nation, we are facing many challenges but I believe that by working together and co-ordinating our efforts the lives of people affected by mental health problems will be improved. The work of groups like the Irish Council for Psychotherapy devote much time and hard work to changing negative perceptions of those suffering from mental health illness. Thanks to the work of people like you we are seeing an increasing change in people’s attitudes and behaviour towards mental health problems, allowing more and more people to seek the skilled care and support that will guide them through the dark days of depression, anxiety, hopelessness and thoughts of suicide. ]
Society is also beginning to see the provision of psychotherapy services not simply in the context of mental health but also in the broader primary care and every day community / societal setting where people in general can benefit from psychological and social therapies at various times in their lives and for a multiplicity of reasons. This is an important step forward and an understanding we can build on as we continue to improve our understanding of mental health issues and remove the barriers and stigmas that can block access to readily available and crucial help and assistance.
In conclusion, I wish to thank you again for your invitation to open this conference and I wish you well in your ongoing work to have psychotherapy recognised as an independent profession underpinned by statutory regulation. I am sure that you will derive great benefit and inspiration from the interaction and cross fertilisation of ideas that will take place over these two days
Go raibh mile maith agaibh go leir.