Mental Health Reform welcomes recommendation for significant increase in mental health investment by Future of Healthcare Committee
Mental Health Reform, the national coalition on mental health, has today welcomed the Committee on the Future of Healthcare’s recommendation that at least 10% of the overall health budget be ring-fenced for mental health spending.
Speaking after the launch of the report, Shari McDaid, Director of Mental Health Reform, said, “The report shows cross-party support for a substantial increase in Ireland’s mental health budget. Mental health has always played second fiddle to physical health in spending terms and indeed this year we have seen mental health funding fall to just 6% of the overall health budget, compared to 13% in the UK and 11% in the Netherlands. It is vital that the Committee’s recommendations get implemented and that mental health spending is prioritised in the next five health budgets, given how far behind Ireland is in developing a modern mental health system.”
“It is also very positive to see the Committee recognise that primary care services should have the capacity to deliver mental health care in communities across the country. By addressing mental health difficulties at primary care level, before they get more serious, the need for referral to acute services may be avoided. This represents the best value for money in mental health care and can help ensure that people get quick access to the support they need when a mental health difficulty arises,” concluded Dr. McDaid.
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