Today, we take a look at which parties have made commitments on mental health to date. As General Election manifestos are published, we’ll keep you up to date on who is saying what on mental health.
First up, the Anti Austerity Alliance – People Before Profit
The AAA-PBP manifesto is Common Principles: Radical Alternatives & Real Equality. It doesn’t make any specific commitments on mental health but on health there is a commitment to build a National Health Service.
The AAA and PBP will publish individual manifestos in the coming weeks.
http://antiausterityalliance.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/AAA-PBP-Common-Principles-Radical-Alternative-and-Real-Equality.pdf
Next up, Fianna Fáil
The Fianna Fáil policy document Improving Mental Health makes specific commitments to:
• Carry out a review of A Vision for Change and draft a follow-on policy for 2016-2026 that has a recovery and partnership approach,
• Implement the recommendations of the Expert Group on the Review of the Mental Health Act, 2001,
• Ensure cross-governmental coordination to address the interlinked issues of homelessness and mental health difficulties,
• Support children’s mental health by ensuring mental health promotion, early intervention, and improved access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, and
• Allocate an additional €40 million per annum to mental health services.
https://www.fiannafail.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Fianna-F%C3%A1il-Mental-Health-Policy.pdf
Next, the Social Democrats
The Social Democrats’ manifesto Building a Better Future, 2016-2026 includes specific commitments to:
• Deliver all aspects of A Vision for Change,
• Introduce a curriculum to develop children’s mental health and well-being,
• Restore guidance counsellors to all secondary schools,
• Ensure that dedicated mental health teams are on call 24/7,
• Resource and expand the Counselling in Primary Care service, and
• Enact the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in conjunction with new legislation on Advance Healthcare Directives.
http://socialdemocrats.ie/2016/01/building-a-better-future/
And finally, Renua Ireland
The Renua Ireland manifesto Rewarding Work, Rebuilding Trust makes specific commitments to:
• Implement in full the recommendations of Mental Health Reform’s 6 point mental health manifesto (see https://mentalhealthreform.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Mental-Health-Reform-General-Election-Manifesto-Nov-2015.pdf), and
• Increase the share of the health budget for mental health services to 7%,
http://www.renuaireland.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/RENUA-Manifesto.pdf
