#facebook instant articles work rss Apple RSS The Irish Times - News Irish Times Health [p?c1=2&c2=8946263&cv=2.0&cj=1] IFRAME: //www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-M9Q373 * Search * Newsletters * Crossword * Notices * My Account * Subscribe * Sign In [adserv|3.0|826.1|4269082|0|225|ADTECH;loc=300;target=_blank;kvtopic=He alth;cookie=info;] Menu The Irish Times Tue, Dec 27, 2016 ^Sign In Welcome * The Irish Times * News * Sport * Business * Opinion * Life & Style * Culture * More * Video * Podcasts * Executive Jobs * Search * Subscribe * My Account * Sign In * News * Health * Ireland * World * Politics * Crime & Law * Social Affairs * Education All News * Ireland + Irish News * World + UK + Europe + US + Africa + Middle East + Asia-Pacific * Politics + Oireachtas + Poll + Election 2016 + Assembly Election * Crime & Law * Social Affairs + Religion & Beliefs * Health * Education + Student Hub * Courts * Irish Times Data * Environment * Science * Consumer * Offbeat * In Depth * Specials + Brexit + US Election + Terror attacks + 1916 * Podcasts + Inside Politics + World View * Subscriptions + ePaper + Newspaper Archive By using this website, you consent to our use of cookies. For more information on cookies see our Cookie Policy. (BUTTON) X High levels of stress identified among local politicians Almost half of representatives surveyed suffered depression or anxiety Sat, Oct 15, 2016, 01:00 Paul Cullen A significant minority of councillors reported loss of energy, poor concentration and motivation, while 9% said they had experienced loss of libido and 5% had thoughts of self-harm. Photograph: Getty Images A significant minority of councillors reported loss of energy, poor concentration and motivation, while 9% said they had experienced loss of libido and 5% had thoughts of self-harm. Photograph: Getty Images A survey of county councillors across the State has identified high levels of depression and stress among local politicians. Almost half of those surveyed say they have experienced depression or anxiety, and almost 80 per cent feel their role as a councillor is impinging on family or personal life. Two out of every three councillors report experiencing mental stress as a direct result of their political role, according to the research conducted by Fianna Fáil Senator and GP Dr Keith Swanwick. The most common symptom reported by the 129 councillors who took part in the survey is sleep disturbance, experienced by 54 per cent. Almost half report low mood and 26 per cent anxiety. A significant minority of councillors also report loss of energy, poor concentration and poor motivation, while 9 per cent said they had experienced loss of libido and 5 per cent had thoughts of self-harm. * Zappone to overhaul system of court-appointed guardians * Harsh media treatment of Shane Ross unfair, claims Canney * Cities to be focus of growth under Simon Coveney plan One in five have sought medical advice for their symptoms while in 42 per cent of cases, family members have expressed concern about their mental wellbeing. A large majority of councillors say their duties have increased in recent years and the demands of the job would make them consider not running for local government again. Isolation Dr Swanwick says that he was struck by the sense of isolation felt by many local representatives when he visited them during a canvass for votes for the Seanad election earlier this year. He undertook to survey councillors and to present his findings at the Association of Irish Local Government conference in Gorey, Co Wexford, yesterday. He says the results are the same for councillors of all parties and for different age groups. “There’s no buffer zone for councillors, and no secretariat, and that often leaves them exposed,” he says. Most of those surveyed feel they should have more psychological support and expressed interest in the setting up of a peer support group. ADVERTISEMENT [adserv|3.0|826.0|6282597|0|170|ADTECH;loc=300;alias=;cookie=info;kvinl ine=1] Better pay and administrative supports were mentioned by individual politicians as requirements for improving their mental health. * Topics: * Keith Swanwick Read More * Dr Noël Browne: ‘The furthest thing from a career politician’ * Enda Kenny refuses to rule out leading FG into next election * Miriam Lord: The year the recovery kept going . . . for some * Minister criticises British government over Brexit strategy Subscribe. More from The Irish Times * Health An example of Fuchsite, a silicate-type rock containing mica. File photograph: Getty Images No evidence mica dust has ill-effects on health - HSE * Health There are now nearly 150 more senior managers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) than at the time of the economic crash, new official figures show. HSE senior staff numbers exceed economic crash levels * Parenting Ask who their favourite YouTubers are, then go and sneak a look at them yourself. Photograph: Getty Images Parents, here are the rules of your child’s new smartphone * Health & Family The way we were: Tony and Steph Booth at home in Cornahaw, Blacklion in 2006. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh ‘I know my husband better than anyone... 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