The convenors of the cross party Oireachtas Group on Mental Health, to whom Mental Health Reform and Amnesty International Ireland provide secretariat services, have today, World Mental Health Day, 10 October, launched the first ever cross party budget submission in the history of the state to call for the mental health spend to be protected in Budget 2012.
Last Friday we got the great news, that the national representative body of students, USI, will support our Fight for Mental Health in the upcoming budget.
Boxing Legend Michael Carruth and European bronze medallist Eric Donovan are urging people to fight for mental health and stop further cuts to the mental health budget by signing Mental Health Reform’s online petition At the launch at Leinster House this morning, Olympic Gold medalist Carruth said: “This is your chance to let top politicians … Read more
Have a look at the pictures from the launch of our petition here!
Read the Irish Examiner report on our and our member organisation Amnesty International Ireland’s submission here.
Read our submission to the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on proposed mental capacity legislation here.
Orla’s letter to the Editor in the Irish Examiner calls on the Government to preserve mental health staffing levels at Budget 2011 levels. “What we must get away from is the notion that we cannot afford to have good mental health services. We cannot afford to have poor mental health services: Mental health difficulties cost the Irish economy around 2%, (approx €2.5 billion), of GNP annually.”
Read Mental Health Reform Director Orla Barry’s piece for thejournal.ie on the use of seclusion in mental health services here.
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Mental Health Services are to get their own Directorate with executive and budgetary powers this autumn, Minister for Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch TD announced yesterday, committing to one of MHR’s key asks.
