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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.
Collaboration & Advocacy
Provides a space for member organisations, professionals, and individuals to share insights, challenges, and solutions for improving Ireland’s mental health systemS
Policy Influence
Helps inform our advocacy efforts by identifying key priorities and recommendations for government policies.
Service Improvement
Addresses gaps in mental health services and explores innovative approaches to delivering better care.
Lived Experience
Ensures that the voices of those with lived experience are at the heart of discussions and policy recommendations.
Reshaping Healthcare - HSE 6 Health Regions
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Our Coalition Conversations webinar series is back for 2025, with the first webinar focusing on Understanding the HSE’s Regional Restructuring. This webinar will explore the shift to six new regional health areas, explore the potential impacts on services, communities, and professionals, and provide space for your questions and insights. Whether you work in health, policy, advocacy, or simply want to stay informed, this is a session not to be missed.
Suicide Prevention
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We discuss the opportunities and limitations of the ‘Connecting for Life’ Suicide Prevention Policy and we can facilitate knowledge sharing between our member organisations and lived experience community.
Mental Health in the Workplace
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As part of our Coalition Conversations webinar on Social Inclusion, we were delighted to launch our co-produced guide “Mental Health in the Workplace: A Guide to Your Rights”.
Understanding the Proposed Changes to Mental Health Law - Part 1
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We review the proposed amendments to the Mental Health Act
Understanding the Proposed Changes to Mental Health Law - Part 2
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We review the proposed amendments to the Mental Health Act
Innovation in Youth Mental Health
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This webinar will platform the work of voluntary and community organisations who are finding innovative ways to communicate and assist children and young people who require mental health supports. It will feature presentations from experts in the mental health sector, which will be followed by a Q&A session.
Speakers included:
- Fiona Coyle, CEO, Mental Health Reform
- Ian Power, CEO, spunout
- Louise Holland, Clinical Manager, Jigsaw
- John Church, CEO, Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- Youth Volunteer, spunout
Use Your Voice – The Power of Lived Experience in Effecting Positive Change
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We were delighted to collaborate with See Change to mark Green Ribbon month which focuses on the theme of judgement. Across the month of September, See Change explores what mental health judgement is, where it shows up across society, how judgement impacts people with mental health difficulties, and what we can all do to help end the unfair judgement of ourselves and others.
This webinar explores how speaking openly about our experiences of mental health can help to challenge the judgement of mental health difficulties.
Talking about mental health plays a vital role in getting mental health on the political agenda. Telling your story and sharing lived experiences of mental health difficulties can help to create positive change in our mental health system. Lived experience has the power to inform and improve mental health services and supports.
Speakers discussed the importance of information and education on mental health and recovery and the positive role it plays in addressing judgement and stigma in society.
Speakers included:
- Fiona Coyle, CEO, Mental Health Reform
- Nicola Byrne, CEO, Shine
- Dr Donal O’Keeffe, Recovery Coordinator, ARCHES Recovery College
- Brodie Thompson, See Change Ambassador
- Paddy McGowan, Expert by Experience
Social Prescribing and Mental Health
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Social prescribing is a service aimed at adults who may experience social isolation and loneliness such as older age groups, people with chronic health problems and people with mental health difficulties and psychosocial needs. The HSE is currently expanding social prescribing across Ireland to ensure the service is available in every county by the end of 2023.
The webinar explored the impact and barriers to implementation of social prescribing in Ireland, particularly as it relates to the voluntary and community mental health sector and recovery focused mental health care.
We also launched our new briefing paper on Social Prescribing and the Voluntary and Community Mental Health Sector at the webinar.
Speakers included:
- Orla Walsh, Project Manager, Mental Health & Wellbeing programme, HSE
- Sarah Sheridan, Social Prescribing Link Worker, “Flourish Social Prescribing service” at The Family Centre
- Teresa Keane, Development Officer, Mental Health Ireland
- Suzanna Weedle, Policy & Advocacy Coordinator, Mental Health Reform
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