Press Release – Immediate Release
Mental Health Reform announces new Director, as campaign reaches 17,000 signatures
Mental Health Reform today (26th September) announced the appointment of Dr Shari McDaid as Director of the organisation. The national coalition works to promote improved mental health services and has to date gathered more than 17,000 signatures for its pre-budget campaign, Do What Works, on community mental health services.
Dr Eddie Molloy, Chairman of Mental Health Reform, commented on the appointment: “I am delighted to welcome Dr. Shari McDaid to the role of Director, on behalf of the Board of Mental Health Reform. Shari has been a valued member of the team at Mental Health Reform since August 2011 and brings with her more than fifteen years of experience in the mental health and disability sectors in Ireland. It is vitally important that we have a united voice calling for reform of mental health services in this country, and Shari is well placed to continue building the movement for change.”
Calling on people with an interest in mental health to support the Do What Works campaign, Dr McDaid said: “I am excited to take on the role of Director as of 1st October, at such an important time for mental health in Ireland. Budget Day is less than three weeks away and important decisions are now being made about next year’s budget for mental health services. It is crucial that the Government honours the Programme for Government commitment to invest €35 million in community mental health services in 2014. We are asking people to make their voices heard by signing the Do What Works petition on www.mentalhealthreform.ie/petition2013.”
“We know what works for mental health. What works are mental health services based in the community, with a range of multidisciplinary staff offering a choice of treatment options; easy access to mental health support from one’s GP; access to talking therapies and helping people with a mental health difficulty to get into and maintain employment and secure accommodation,” Dr McDaid concluded.
The Do What Works campaign runs until Budget Day on 15th October 2013.
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