Surge in number of referrals to mental health services for anxiety

The survey also revealed that GPs are seeing increases in the numbers of people with anxiety-related difficulties, with 57% of GPs now reporting that anxiety is the most common mental health condition for which they refer their patients.

Taking place in St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin 8, the Founder’s Day conference brought together academics, clinicians and practitioners from Ireland and abroad to explore national and international perspectives on the issue of anxiety. Now in its ninth year, the conference marks the birthday of the founder of St Patrick’s, Jonathan Swift, and celebrates clinical excellence in mental health.

The plenary lecture was delivered by Professor David Clark of Oxford University, examining psychological treatments for anxiety and the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme. Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly TD, also presented a short address on the day.

Professor Clark said:

“Anxiety disorders are very common, disabling and costly to society. Psychological therapies can be very effective but often aren’t available. The Founder’s Day conference tackles this issue head-on by considering what are the best treatments, how to train therapists to deliver them skilfully, and major initiatives such as the English Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme that has succeeded in greatly increasing public access to effective therapy.”

Other speakers and topics for the day included:

• Professor Mark Freeston from Newcastle University on the role of intolerance of uncertainty in understanding, formulating and treating anxiety in anxiety disorders and beyond
• Dr Helen Kennerley of the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre on anxiety and dissociation
• Dr Brian Fitzmaurice of Trinity College Dublin on challenges and opportunities for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training for anxiety disorders.

Speaking about the conference, Chief Executive Officer of St Patrick’s, Paul Gilligan, said:

“Our survey findings have shown that anxiety is a real concern in Irish society. However, the research has also shown that there are increases in the number of people presenting to their GP with anxiety. This indicates that significant progress is being made in treating mental health difficulties, as people are actively seeking help for mental health concerns through their GPs.”  “This year, Founder’s Day brings together experts in the area to share treatment approaches, clinical knowledge and progressive research with those working at the forefront of mental healthcare in Ireland. The conference marks an important opportunity to learn about effective treatments and approaches to an increasingly prevalent mental health difficulty.”

Key statistics

• 77% of Irish society believe there is a worrying prevalence of anxiety (St Patrick’s Mental Health Services annual stigma survey, 2019)
• 57% of Irish GPs say that anxiety is the main mental health difficulty for which they refer patients to mental health services (St Patrick’s Mental Health Services annual stigma survey, 2019)
• Three in four parents (76%) in Ireland see an association between social media and anxiety in children (St Patrick’s Mental Health Services annual stigma survey, 2019)
• 65% of people in Ireland have had someone disclose to them that they have a mental health difficulty, with 45% of people most likely to turn to their GP if they had a concern about their own or someone else’s mental health (St Patrick’s Mental Health Services annual stigma survey, 2019)
• 56% of people in Ireland are afraid of experiencing mental health difficulties in the future (St Patrick’s Mental Health Services annual stigma survey, 2019)
• 49% of adolescents in Ireland reported levels of anxiety outside the normal range (My World 2 survey, 2019)
• 58% of adolescents in Ireland are classified as outside the normal range for depression and anxiety (My World 2 survey, 2019)