Mental Health Reform has welcomed today’s announcement by Mr Tony O’Brien, Director General Designate of the HSE, of the appointment of Stephen Mulvany as the new National Director for Mental Health.
Commenting on the announcement, Orla Barry, Director of Mental Health Reform, said: “We have long been calling for a Director for Mental Health to be put in place, in line with the Government’s own mental health policy A Vision for Change and we welcome Stephen Mulvany to this important role.”
“For the new National Director to have real impact, he needs to be accountable for the funding, planning and delivery of mental health services, and must have executive powers, budgetary control and responsibility to report publicly on progress. In order to fulfil the intentions of A Vision for Change, he will also need input from multi-disciplinary staff”, Ms. Barry continued.
“Mr. Mulvany’s appointment comes at a crucial time for mental health reform in Ireland, as a review of A Vision for Change and government mental health policy is expected to be undertaken this year. The recruitment moratorium and staffing delays for community mental health services continue to bite in 2013 and there is a danger of progress being undone. We wish Mr. Mulvany well in his role and hope that he will be given the resources and control to get the reform of Ireland’s mental health services on the twin track of cultural and structural reform”, Ms. Barry concluded.
