A leading psychiatrist has urged the Irish government to add lithium salts to the public water supply to aid the battle against suicide and depression.
Well known consultant psychiatrist Dr Moosajee Bhamjee made the call at a mental health forum on ‘Depression in Rural Ireland’ in the Clare town of Ennistymon.
The former politician told the meeting, “There is growing scientific evidence that adding trace amounts of the drug lithium to a water supply can lower rates of suicide and depression.
“A recent article in the British Journal of Psychiatry found that the beneficial uses of lithium when it was added to the water supply in parts of Texas.
“I believe the Government should consider a pilot project for a town in Ireland where lithium salts could be added to the water in very small doses and examine the results.
“There is already a strong precedent for governments intervening in the operation of public water supply for health benefits by adding fluoride.”
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Dr Bhamjee added that addiction to lithium would not be an issue according to the Irish Times.
“A community will not get hooked on lithium because the doses would be so small,” he added.
“There are 200,000 people suffering from depression in Ireland and the Government must think of new ways of tackling the problem.”
Fine Gael TD Dan Neville, chairman of the Irish Association of Suicidology, Dan Neville, told delegates that the average annual suicide rate in Ireland in the 1960s was 64-65.
He revealed, “Last year, 483 people died by suicide and if you add the 123 undetermined deaths, the suicide number is over 600.
“This compares to 212 who died by road accidents, which is itself unacceptable.
“Research shows during international recessions, the suicide rate increases by 25 per cent. Ireland has the fourth highest youth suicide rate in Europe.
“Suicide is the most common death for 15 to 24-year-olds and accounts for more than those who die from cancer and road accidents combined.”
The Limerick deputy also stated: “The attitude in mental health service towards those with mental health problems should be recovery and not containment.
“Early intervention, you have 90 per cent cure and late intervention you have difficulties for life.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Patrick Jordan | Jun 08, 2012, 09:11 PM EDT
From the timeline in ICD-999, Vaccine Induced Disease, The Chronic Serum Sickness Postulate: In 1949 the FDA in The Colonies allowed Lithium Chloride in salt until 4 people died. Lithium is a Magnesium antagonist. Magnesium is necessary for hundreds of enzyme functions. The off-label use of Lithium is for CONTROLLING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. This is the Potato Famine Massacre except with soft metal poisons. The word Govern Mente means To Steer The Mind in Latin. So it is the Irish Mind Control that is behind this.
mhichil | Jun 08, 2012, 12:02 PM EDT
first you make them depressed then kill them with Big Pharma?? cannabis anyone?
sirpeter | Jun 08, 2012, 04:26 AM EDT
No!! No!! cuddlybuddly.You drink it.
IrelandNorth | Dec 05, 2011, 07:11 AM EST
Thought this was a "ball-hop" when I heard it first. If he's serious, I think he needs his head examined. What ever happened to the "talking cure" of counselling and psychotherapy? Or is it a pharmaceutical industry ploy to shift more of its chemically dubious placebos remedies?
gobdawpaddy | Dec 04, 2011, 09:53 AM EST
Just had a thought, the publicans would go nuts if this became a reality. First the smoking ban, then a crackdown on drink driving, sure if they put lithium in the water supply no-one would be going to the pub.
gobdawpaddy | Dec 04, 2011, 08:21 AM EST
Echoes of Mengele.
ChaseCharlie | Dec 03, 2011, 07:27 PM EST
msmandie I love you. You are so right.
MsMandieMae | Dec 03, 2011, 05:31 PM EST
This is ridiculous. I don't understand what kind of idiot would even pause at such an idea. What a senseless waste of brain power. We could fix all kinds of problems by lacing the water supply... Diet pills for obesity, marijuana for tolerance, amphetamines for laziness, viagra for boredom, and LSD for weekends. Ecstasy for all politicians and salt peter for the priests. Obviously this donkey should get off the acid and think of a real solution for the tragic suicide rate being so high. Suicide is a real problem and this kind of BS just proves how out of touch with this problem everyone really is. This is sad. Very Very Sad.
MsMandieMae | Dec 03, 2011, 05:21 PM EST
This is ridiculous. I don't understand what kind of idiot would even pause at such an idea. What a senseless waste of brain power. We could fix all kinds of problems by lacing the water supply... Diet pills for obesity, marijuana for tolerance, amphetamines for laziness, viagra for boredom, and LSD for weekends. Ecstasy for all politicians and salt peter for the priests. Obviously this donkey should get off the acid and think of a real solution for the tragic suicide rate being so high. Suicide is a real problem and this kind of bs just proves how out of touch everyone really is. This is sad. Very Very Sad.
canadianirish | Dec 03, 2011, 04:23 PM EST
@stephendoyle- lol!! lol!!! lol!!! I also cracked up at the first line of oaklongan's post!! Thanks for giving me my laugh of the day :))
Maureenohallora | Dec 03, 2011, 04:22 PM EST
It makes me wonder just what is already being pumped into our water supply?
Maureenohallora | Dec 03, 2011, 04:16 PM EST
Is this Doctor for real???? is he off his rocker? did he never hear of doing the job he is meant to be doing and that is helping with psychology not bloody Lithium!!! Lithium is deadly and if over done it can kill you, people on lithium have to drink tons of water so that they dont over do the salt in their bodies,,, the reason we have suicide in Our country is because there is no constructive help for people like this doctor who are meant to be trained in the ways of the mind, ya we know what he is up to ,, feed the pharma cuticle companies more money to produce more drugs,,, Doctor Try doing your job the right way and then you wont need lithium, you need locking up sir
Pittsburghkid | Dec 03, 2011, 11:50 AM EST
Suicides are up because Ireland is being occupied by the EU. The Irish were Free, but invited the EU, because they missed the British. The EU are sending Africans to colonize Ireland, the same as the British sent in the Scotch. The Africans are complaining of being murdered native Irish. The Scotch complained of being murdered by natives Irish. The British enacted Tranportation Laws for Irish cought walking the roads after night fall to protect the Scotch. Is the EU going to enact Transportation Laws to protect the Africans?
JOLIEJO | Dec 03, 2011, 12:12 AM EST
I once read in the El Paso Times that El Paso, Texas has a natural source of Lithum in it water. The article said that compared to other cities its size, El Paso had a much lower rate of mental illness. Of course if you have ever been to El Paso you would certainly disagree with that. I think they simply ignore all the crazies driving around there.
lokionline | Dec 02, 2011, 10:36 PM EST
What a laugh! I can just see the likes of Dr.Bhamjee convincing the Dubliners I know to accept the idea that the state can be trusted with this kind of thing.
oaklongan | Dec 02, 2011, 09:32 PM EST
Get the Tin-foil hat out for Dr. Bhamjee or make HIM the test pilot subject for the lithium-in Ireland's water supply...As to the Br J Psychiatry article that found so-called "beneficial uses of lithium when it was added to water supply in parts of Texas"...so THAT'S what's responsible for Texas Gov. Rick Perry's recent and continuing? brain lock? BOTTOMS-UP!! I THINK IRISH PEOPLE ARE BEST OFF TO CONTINUE TO GO TO THEIR FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD PUB FOR A BIT OF SANITY VS. HAVING LITHIUM ADDED TO THEIR DRINKING WATER...
irishamerica46 | Dec 02, 2011, 03:54 PM EST
Lithium is a serious drug with serious side effects.As a Mental Health Nurse,I've seen people with Lithium toxicity. It's horrible.He's not even considering that people may have medical conditions that might make the drug more toxic. Maybe he needs lithium and a good shrink!
Portia777 | Dec 02, 2011, 03:06 PM EST
Nice to sane in an insane world.!! How much of a bonus was he offered? Would we even know if it was added to our water already?
hybernia | Dec 02, 2011, 02:55 PM EST
Dr Moosajee Bhamjee, Are his parents siblings?
greensod | Dec 02, 2011, 02:43 PM EST
Litnium has been used for many reasons,including for the purpose Dr Bhamjee proposes,Some have used it for gout.Like any medication, mineral, or herb it can cause serious problems for some people.On the other hand it has been a great help for others.Do the research before condeming what he is suggesting,I am sure he has.
jacersagain | Dec 02, 2011, 01:54 PM EST
Dr. Moosajee Bhamjee lives in the West of Ireland. There must be something already in the water in the West of Ireland to make people think madcap ideas like his on lithium use. You heard of course about the Galway Councillor who stood up in the Council Chamber and exhorted all to do their utmost to create jobs in Connemara...? No?? Read on... He said that since Connemara had lots of wind coming in from the Atlantic that this natural resource should be used to create local jobs in wind powered electricity generation. Yes, I’m ok with that... but he then said that since Connemara had cloud cover for an average of nine months of the year, this natural resource should be used to generate modern jobs in cloud computing.
MargaretSheehan | Dec 02, 2011, 01:44 PM EST
This psychiatrist needs help! Lithium has severe adverse reactions. Is the entire country going to have Lithium levels done monthly? This drug has a narrow therapeutic margin of safety and is contraindicated if therapy can't be closely monitored. There are screening tests for depression. All employers, school systems etc. should have these in place and the general public should be made aware of the signs and symptoms of depression. Light therapy and prescribed medication are extremely effective when used timely and correctly. Lithium in the water supply is not the answer.
amkilshane | Dec 02, 2011, 01:06 PM EST
This is totally insane. Those people should be treated individually. Ireland has the fourth highest youth suicide rate in Europe - this I find hard to understand. Having grown up in Ireland where there was corporal punishment in the schools and at home and all kinds of verbal and physical abuse and yet none of us was driven to suicide, it was very rare. We just became alcoholics instead.
peterson | Dec 02, 2011, 12:53 PM EST
A shot of Jameson's could due wonders !!!!
cillowen | Dec 02, 2011, 12:02 PM EST
and i thought guinness had no cry babies who wanted out in their elixir.
FastEddy | Dec 02, 2011, 11:54 AM EST
Salt Peter added to public water = better results = fewer g'ment employees.
jerryoneill | Dec 02, 2011, 11:51 AM EST
How about some Viagra in the water as well for those who have a hard, or should I say difficult with the "Risin of the Moon".
awoken32 | Dec 02, 2011, 11:06 AM EST
Who is he working for?there is already fluoride in the water,yes the same fluoride that hitler used in the comcentration camps to keep the jews dossile,lithium???? this psychiatrist is an total nutcase for even suggesting such a thing,i had depression for years an suicidal thoughts,i still can get down every now an then,an the best thing for it is exercise,exercise is the best thing for depression,an that is a fact,if you cannot exercise for some reason go to your doctor.make sure it is one you a doctor thrust,because alot of doctors in the medical proffession can be evil or just dont have a clue,(example in main post,ill let you decide,id go for evil)but there is also natural herbs an stuff aswell,lithium my god,i only heard that the american government are trying to introduce lithium into the supply over there aswell an this with the people even been asked about it,the side affects of such a drug would actually cause more suicides an more mentalo health problems,then you have kids drinking the water aswell as adults,how insane can you get,i could go on an on,id like to knoew what pharmaceutical company this looney works for,an how much money this company would make from this deal,even the fhuoride is very bad for you an we already have that in the water,the government should be called on that aswell,now lithium is been discussed to sedate everyone,what a joke,a sick an twisted joke,NOT A HOPE IN HELL,SACK THAT PSYCHIATRIST NUTCASE
Murph46 | Dec 02, 2011, 10:48 AM EST
Don't Worry-Be Happy :)
NoelleP | Dec 02, 2011, 10:29 AM EST
If one examines the extreme side affects of Lithium, as well as the not-so-extreme side affects, along with Lithium's affect on other pharmaceuticals taken by the general population PLUS the fact that Lithium should not be given to children under 12 years of age, one can conclude that the psychiatrist is a few "Fruit Loops" shy of a full box.
Searlit | Dec 02, 2011, 10:25 AM EST
Oh don't do anything to help people that are devastated by the financial crisis or who have no access to a treatment facility. Just pour the salt in the wound and make them like zombies. Is this some kind of new plot for a movie?
SeamusMor | Dec 02, 2011, 10:25 AM EST
Crazy!
stephendoyle | Dec 02, 2011, 10:23 AM EST
LOL, this would increase tourism,not decrease it. It would be far cheaper to bottle and sell the stuff than what people are paying for a prescription of it!This could be quite a money maker for the government! Come visit Ireland where you never leave depressed! You have to love it....
NoelleP | Dec 02, 2011, 10:06 AM EST
Lithium in the water supply will surely keep international tourists away....in droves!!! That psychiatrist needs a "time out" to be mentally re-evaluated to see if he's truly competent to do the job or to speak in public where everyone can hear him.
cuddlybuddly | Dec 02, 2011, 09:51 AM EST
Do not dare put Lithium near my water system, Lithium merely surpress emotions and will render people half dead, I would prefer to be fully dead than chemically lobotomized thank you very much..look at the way This Country deals with it's problems!! twice as many chose death than had accidents...that says something, care to listen?
Springfield9 | Dec 02, 2011, 09:37 AM EST
Lithium carbonate was discovered (by accident) in California. They were wondering why a certain region seemed so blissful. They found Lithium in the aquifer. So, add it to the Celtic water and the first sign of progress will be people not wearing socks anymore.
antoman | Dec 02, 2011, 09:28 AM EST
Well at least its not bromine. Keep a stiff upper lip lads.
beachcomber | Dec 02, 2011, 09:16 AM EST
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel FINE. *shuffles off to add whiskey to my coffee, after reading this bit of depressing news, I need it* CHEERS!