Oireachtas group on mental health makes budget recommendations

AS Budget Day fast approaches, a group of TDs and senators have issued a joint pre-budget submission to Government on mental health funding and services.

The Oireachtas Group on Mental Health is making a number of recommendations for Budget 2016 which include:

1. Funding for the implementation of the national guidelines on mental health promotion and wellbeing for primary and post primary schools.

2. Extension of the Counselling in Primary Care service to people on low to middle incomes with mild to moderate mental health difficulties and increase the ceiling on the number of sessions to 20.

3. Further development of primary care psychology services to ensure adequate provision throughout the

4. Allocation of an additional €35 million for community mental health services in 2016.

5. Reduction of waiting times for access to mental health services, by ensuring that staffing levels recommended in A Vision for Change are met, with a particular focus on staffing for child and adolescent mental health services.

6. Commitment to ensure that 24/7 crisis intervention services are available in every area of the country.

7. Investment in the development of mental health services for people with mental health and intellectual disability, including capital investment, ensuring access to Mental Health of Intellectual Disability (MHID) nurses in A&E and commitment to maintaining the four-year Intellectual Disability Nursing degree.

8. Restoration of the Back to Work Allowance in order to support people with mental health disabilities into employment

9. Implementation of a national mental health information system in 2016 that will report on the extent of service resources, provision, quality and outcomes for community-based mental health service delivery according to key performance indicators aligned to A Vision for Change.

Speaking at the launch, Dublin Central TD Maureen O’Sullivan (Ind), a member of the group, said one in seven adults in Ireland will have experienced a mental health difficulty in the last year.

“It’s important that Budget 2016 doesn’t leave these people behind,” said Deputy O’Sullivan.  

“Early intervention measures like the Counselling in Primary Care service need to be extended to reach people on low to middle incomes. Psychology services in primary care should also be further developed.

“Giving people quick and easy access to the support they need is vital for their recovery.”  

Deputy O’Sullivan added: “It is also important that support is given to those organisations working with children and young people, encouraging them to take care of their mental health, as well as their physical health.”