Another Blog up-date by Donie

Irish people ‘too embarrassed to seek’ 

Counselling or a psychotherapist

   

A new study finds men are much less likely to visit a counsellor of psychotherapist than women.

Almost a quarter of Irish adults say they would be embarrassed if others knew they were seeing a counsellor or psychotherapist, according to a new survey.

The nationwide study of 1,000 people, which was undertaken on behalf of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), reveals older people are more likely to keep their feelings to themselves than others.

The survey shows that while a quarter of Irish people have previously attended counselling or psychotherapy, the figure falls to 14 per cent for those aged over 65.

As many as 23 per cent of pensioners said they prefer to keep their problems to themselves, nearly double the rate for the overall adult population.

When asked about how they deal with personal problems, 70 per cent of survey respondents said they would most likely talk to a friend or family member about the issues they faced, while 15 per cent would seek help from a doctor or counsellor. A further 13 per cent said they would not tell anyone about it.

Only half of those aged over 65 said they would open up to those close to them about mental health issues.

The study also shows men and those living in rural areas are wary of opening up about personal problems.

The survey indicates 30 per cent of women have gone to see a counsellor or psychotherapist at some point in their lives, compared to 19 per cent of men. In addition, nearly a third of people living in rural communities said they are more likely to bottle up their feelings rather than sharing them with others.

Overall, three-quarters of respondents said they had never seen a counsellor or psychotherapist. When asked about the reasons for not attending, 28 per cent said it was because they didn’t know enough about it or didn’t feel it would work.

Age Action welcomed the study findings but expressed concern over the number of older people who were wary of opening up about their feelings.

“Anxiety and stress experienced among older people may be caused by uncertainty over the future, stress due to enforced retirement, loss because of bereavement,” said the organisation’s head of advocacy and communications Eamon Timmins.

“The third stage in life can be the most enjoyable and rewarding. So please, if you’re going through a rough patch, let someone know. Talk to a relative, friend, GP, nurse or counsellor. Don’t go though it alone”, he added.

Separately, GP and author Dr Harry Barry warned of the dangers of not opening up about mental health issues.

“Bottling up problems can exacerbate mental and physical problems. This research highlights the fact that mental and physical well-being can be affected in people who lack the social supports that they had when they were younger, such as family, work and social contact,” he said.

Government’s €3bn sale  

To include parts of ESB and Bord Gáis

The Govt has announced that the sale of State assets will include the Bord Gáis Energy business and some of ESB’s “non-strategic” power generation capacity.

  

Announcement made this morning by Brendan Howlin

The Government and the Troika have agreed on the sale of State assets worth up to €3bn. The Bord Gáis Energy business will be sold, however this will not include its gas transmission or distribution systems or the two gas inter-connectors.

The Government will also be selling some of ESB’s “non-strategic” power generation capacity.

It has decided not to go ahead with the sale of a minority stake in ESB, as had previously been signalled.

The sale of some of forestry body Coillte’s assets will be considered, though not the sale of land.

A spokesperson for Coillte said that any sale of company assets “is clearly a matter for the shareholder and the company is focused on getting on with business.”

The State will also be selling its remaining 25% shareholding in Aer Lingus if the share price rises.

It said the Aer Lingus move would take place only when market conditions were right and at an acceptable price to Government.

Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform Brendan Howlin said it had been agreed that one-third of any of the proceeds could be used for re-investment in the economy.

There will be no “fire sales” the Government insisted, adding that important transmission and distribution infrastructure will stay in State ownership.

In a statement, Bord Gáis said it would now engage with the Government and other relevant parties to ensure that the sale of its energy business would generate the maximum value for the State.

Opposition criticises sale plans in the Dáil: Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he does not envisage that the sale of State assets will happen this year, but the process could begin in 2013.

Mr Kenny was responding to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams in the Dáil this morning.

Mr Adams said there was something wrong when the Government was endeavouring to achieve a sale of State assets worth €3bn when it was going to pay €3.1bn to banks next month.

The Taoiseach repeated that agreement had been reached to use one third of the proceeds of the asset sale on job creation, an outcome that was welcomed by Independent TD Shane Ross.

However, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has accused the Taoiseach of “misleading” people about the sale of State assets.

Mr Martin said there was no mention of the sale of either €2bn or €5bn worth of State assets in the original Memorandum of Understanding with the Troika.

He said the issue was included on foot of Fine Gael party policy and suggested the agreement with the Troika was being mentioned “to appease Labour backbenchers”.

Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins described the proposed sale as “treachery”.                    A number of opposition TDs asked when the Dáil would debate the sale or the legislation necessary to implement it.

The Taoiseach said the Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources would bring proposals on exactly what should be sold to Cabinet by the end of March.

ICTU General Secretary David Begg said he is relieved that the Government is not planning the wholesale sell-off of State assets as had been previously mooted.

However, Mr Begg said he was worried about the sale of Bord Gáis, as energy security is becoming a much more strategic issue for the country.