Patients with depression are being let down at primary healthcare level because nurses are not trained sufficiently in dealing with mental health conditions, according to a University of Ulster researcher.

Mother-of-two Carole McIlrath from Ballymena, who will receive her doctorate at a UU graduation ceremony this afternoon, discovered in her research that primary care nurses were insufficiently trained in the area of depression, with many of them not considering mental health care as part of their job.

Dr McIlrath is among the students being honoured at the first of the university’s winter graduations of 2008 at the Jordanstown campus.

She said: “Primary care nurses are often the first point of call for almost anyone dealing with the health service. In the study, medical industry professionals were consulted as to the role these nurses play in dealing with adults who suffer from depression.

“The results showed that there is a need for more adequate funding and increased staffing levels to train nurses to deal with this particular mental health issue.

“There is also need for development of relevant policies and strategies in this area, as well as for primary care nurses to view treatment of depression as one of their roles.”

Dr McIlrath said that with depression affecting around 121 million people worldwide and contributing to an increase in the number of suicides in Northern Ireland, steps must to be taken to address the gap in primary care.

She said: “Previous research shows that depression can be linked to a number of other medical conditions and, so, if treated properly from step-one, that is, the primary care nursing stage, then the benefits could be substantial.

“Although Northern Ireland policy, like the rest of the UK, has focused on the development of community mental health services, the pace of primary care development has lagged significantly behind developments in England.

“The way forward for Northern Ireland should be an increase in the number of primary care nurses to take on new depression management roles. While we do have good secondary care for depression, primary care needs to be improved.”

Today, students from the Faculty of Art, Design and the Built Environment and the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences at the university’s Belfast and Jordanstown campuses will receive awards at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

An honorary degree will also be conferred on George Harkness, former honorary treasurer of the university, at the afternoon ceremony.

The distinguished financial analyst and educator will be awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of the University in recognition of his outstanding services to the UU.

Mr Harkness has served on the boards of many leading financial institutions, including Northern Bank Limited, National Irish Bank Limited and National Australia Bank Europe.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and during his professional career he acted as both a lecturer and examiner for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.

A graduate of Cambridge University, Mr Harkness has been extensively involved in voluntary work, having been Chairman and Honorary Treasurer of Habinteg Housing Association (Ulster) Limited, Chairman and Honorary Treasurer of Abbeyfield Belfast Society Limited, Governor and Honorary Treasurer of the Presbyterian Orphan and Children’s Society and a Director of the Ulster Orchestra.

The graduation ceremonies will continue tomorrow at the Jordanstown campus.