Scientific Session 1

Mental Health Services

Challenges and Solutions
Thursday 16th April, 4.15pm

Dr Justin Brophy

Irish Mental Health Services - Vision, Reality and Direction
Dr Justin Brophy is a medical graduate of National University of Ireland, Galway 1982 and after internship in Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry, he undertook a post graduate degree in neuroanatomy. He was subsequently appointed to Assistant Professorship at American University of the Caribbean and returned to medical practice in 1985. Dr Brophy then trained in Psychiatry at Cambridge and returned to Ireland to a Senior Registrar post in Galway. In 1995 Dr Brophy took up the post of Consultant Psychiatrist to Wicklow Mental Health Services and was appointed to his current position as Clinical Director in 2006. Dr Brophy established the AIIP Spike Milligan Public Speaking Trophy & Prize, co-founded the Irish Psychiatric Association (IPA) and is a Director of the Irish Association of Suicidology.
He served on the Expert Group of Mental Health leading to the publication of a ‘Vision for Change’. Dr Justin Brophy was elected foundation president of The College of Psychiatry of Ireland in 2009. He has published learned articles in the subject of suicide epidemiology in Ireland and authored book chapters and articles in a wide range of mental health topics. He practices as a general adult psychiatrist with a special interest in mood disorders and de-psychosis.

Mr Carl O’Brien

Mental health and the media: how to push mental health issues up the political agenda
Mr Carl O’Brien Mental health and the media: how to push mental health issues up the political agenda Carl O'Brien is the Social Affairs Correspondent for The Irish Times. He covers a wide variety of topics, focusing mainly on issues affecting marginalised members of the community, such as people with mental health problems. He was previously political correspondent for the Irish Examiner and has won several national media awards for his coverage of social issues.