<p>
	Almost 50 patients were admitted each day on average to psychiatric units and hospitals last year.</p>
<p>
	Figures published by the Health Research Board show a total of 17,797 admissions recorded last year, with an equal proportion of males and females. Two thirds of last year&rsquo;s admissions were for people who were being readmitted to care.</p>
<p>
	At any one time, there were around 2,200 patients receiving residential psychiatric care in Irish hospitals last year.</p>
<p>
	The number of people requiring admission to hospital for psychiatric treatment has been falling steadily since 1986, when admissions peaked at 29,392.</p>
<p>
	Over the past decade the number of admissions has now fallen by 16%, while the policy to close older psychiatric hospitals has seen admissions to such facilities drop by 53% from 6,814 in 2005 to 3,219 last year.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Since 2012 the Government has ring-fenced &euro;125m for mental health care, with the focus on developing community-based mental health services. However, Opposition parties have criticised the level of staff shortages in such community services. The latest figures show a reduction of 660 on 2013 admission figures &mdash; an annual decrease of almost 4%.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	However, there was a 5% increase in the number of children being admitted to psychiatric units. A total of 436 children aged under 18 years were admitted for psychiatric treatment last year, including two aged 13 years or under.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Junior Health Minister Kathleen Lynch said she was concerned that of these cases, 93 children were admitted to adult psychiatric units, which she described as &ldquo;inappropriate&rdquo;.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	While the admission of children to adult psychiatric units has decreased continuously since 2008, Ms Lynch said there was still room for improvement.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	However, she added: &ldquo;In some cases, it may be the only available option if an adolescent is to obtain early treatment.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	The HRB report Activities of Irish Psychiatric Units and Hospitals 2014 shows two thirds of children requiring psychiatric care are female.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	It also reveals that more than one in 10 of all adult admissions are still made on an involuntary basis. The highest rate of admissions was among the 45-54 years age group, although the 18-19 years group had the highest rate of first-time admissions.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	More than half of all admissions (57%) were of single people, while 41% were unemployed.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Although divorced people accounted for only 4% of all admissions, they had the highest per capita rate of admissions, at 744 per 100,000.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	The HRB recorded 253 admissions for psychiatric services from patients who were classified as having &ldquo;no fixed abode&rdquo;. The majority of these were single men.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	A total of 142 deaths in psychiatric units and hospitals were recorded last year, most involving males over 65 years.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	In terms of length of care, almost a third of all psychiatric patients were discharged within one week of being admitted, while 94% were discharged within three months.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	The median stay in hospital was 10 days.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	The highest number of admissions on a per capita basis was from Roscommon at 507.7 per 100,000 population, followed by Carlow, Donegal, and Westmeath.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Monaghan recorded the lowest rate of admissions at 191.8 per 100,000.</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/50-people-a-day-entered-psychiatric-units-and-hospitals-last-year-366443.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/50-people-a-day-entered-psychiatric-units-and-hospitals-last-year-366443.html</a></p>
