Mental Health Reform welcomes the appointment of Helen McEntee as Minister of State with special responsibility for mental health.
Mental Health Reform, the national coalition for mental health welcomes the appointment of Deputy Helen McEntee as Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for mental health.
Congratulating Deputy McEntee on her appointment the Director of Mental Health Reform, Dr Shari McDaid said: “We are pleased that mental health has retained its junior minister. I very much welcome Deputy McEntee’s appointment. The new Minister takes office at a time when there is widespread support for reform of Ireland’s mental health system. I look forward to supporting her so that she can deliver better outcomes for children and adults who experience a mental health difficulty.”
Deputy McEntee’s appointment comes at a crucial point in the year when none of the €35M funding for 2016 developments has been released to the HSE, delaying recruitment of staff.
Dr McDaid commented: “We call on the newly appointed Minister of State Deputy McEntee to immediately release this year’s development funding to the HSE. Mental health services need these funds now to recruit urgently-needed specialist staff.”
“With strong leadership from both the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, and new Minister of State, this Government has an opportunity to demonstrate that mental health is a priority across the health services. We wish them every success,” concluded Dr McDaid.
ENDS
About Mental Health Reform
Mental Health Reform is the national coalition promoting improved mental health services and the social inclusion of people with mental health difficulties. The coalition currently has 54 members. See www.mentalhealthreform.ie for more details. Mental Health Reform acknowledges the support of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government’s Scheme to Support National Organisations 2014-2016.
For more information please contact:
June Shannon,
Communications and Campaigns Officer,
Mental Health Reform,
Coleraine House,
Coleraine Street,
Dublin 7.
Tel: (086) 171 1920 / 01 874 9469.
