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Coalition Conversations is an initiative designed to bring together key stakeholders, advocates, and the wider community to discuss and shape the future of mental health services in Ireland. These conversations serve as a platform for engagement, policy influence, and collective action.
Understanding the Proposed Changes to the Mental Health Act
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As momentum builds around the Mental Health Bill 2024, fresh changes have been proposed that promise major reforms to how care is delivered and governed.
Join Dr Louise Rooney, Lisa-Marie O’Malley of Mental Health Reform and Nicola Byrne, CEO of Shine on Thursday 7th August at 1 PM as they explain what the Mental Health Bill really means — not just for clinicians or voluntary services, but for every person engaging with mental health systems.
Information Pack
Presentation Slides
Quick Links Guide
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Content Links will be made availalbe after the webinar concludes.
About the Speakers
Dr. Louise Rooney joined Mental Health Reform in March 2025 as Policy and Research Manager. Louise has over a decade of experience as a multidisciplinary social scientist in both the voluntary and statutory sectors. She has extensive experience collaborating with organisations supporting seldom-heard groups, including the Garda Síochána, the Probation Service, Child and Adolescent Mental Health services, and Tusla. Louise has also lectured on numerous master level research programs in University College Dublin, Technological University Dublin and Maynooth University.
Lisa-Marie O’Malley joined Mental Health Reform in May 2025 as Policy and Advocacy Coordinator. With a background in psychology and economics, she previously worked as lead corporate governance research analyst at Glass Lewis. Since 2023, she has co-ordinated the Clare trauma-informed interagency working group, supporting frontline services in embedding trauma-informed practices. She has enjoyed volunteering with many different organisations, often on initiatives with a focus on mental health and supporting young people, and continues to volunteer with Childline. Additionally, she has hands-on experience directly advocating for the rights of individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. Passionate about working towards a world where every person has a chance to thrive, she is committed to amplifying diverse voices and pushing for the progressive reform of mental health services.
Nicola Byrne is the CEO of Shine, a national organisation that provides information and support for people affected by mental health difficulties in Ireland. She is a registered Social Worker with over 25 years of experience in the mental health sector, working in various roles such as practice, policy, research, advocacy, change management, operations, strategy and service delivery. She is passionate about promoting individual and family recovery, challenging stigma, and influencing positive change in mental health policy and practice. Under her leadership, Shine operates frontline services for people with lived experience and their supporters and delivers several important national programmes including the national stigma reduction programme (Shine Green Ribbon, formerly See Change) and Ireland’s national programme for responsible reporting and representation of mental health in the media (Shine Media Programme, formerly Headline).
If you have a topic that you want us to explore in our next Coalition Conversation, let us know! Please reach out us and share your thoughts.
Louise Farrelly
Policy and Research Manager lrooney@mentalhealthreform.ie
Stephen Donnelly
Communications & Membership Officer sdonnelly@mentalhealthreform.ie