Mental Health Reform, Ireland’s leading national coalition for mental health, welcomes Cabinet approval of the Mental Health Bill.
Fiona Coyle, CEO, Mental Health Reform commented: “We welcome this important step taken by the Government to progress Ireland’s new mental health laws. There is an urgent need to reform the Mental Health Act, 2001 to protect the rights of people receiving mental health treatment and care in in-patient settings.
For almost a decade, Mental Health Reform has advocated for the reform of the Mental Health Act. The current Act is significantly out of step with international human rights standards including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The Mental Health Bill will reform and modernise our mental health system to ensure the rights of people with mental health difficulties are protected.
The Bill has significant potential to improve mental health care for children and young people. Under the proposed changes, the Mental Health Commission’s role will be expanded to regulate CAMHS and community centres. Recent reports have exposed serious issues in the services including a failure to monitor children using medication, a lack of follow-up care, poor clinical governance and severe staffing shortages. We urgently need stronger regulation and oversight to restore trust in CAMHS.
We also welcome the proposed changes in the Bill which will allow young people aged 16 and 17 years to consent to or refuse voluntary admission and treatment on the same basis as physical health. This is a significant gap in the current Act which can impact a young person’s ability to access appropriate treatment.
While we welcome these reforms, they will be meaningless to those accessing services unless the Bill is enacted into law and progressed with urgency. We are deeply concerned that the legislation will not be signed into law before the upcoming general election. The Government must commit to introducing the Bill to the Dáil in September and ensure the legislation is brought to committee stage before the general election.
In addition, it is vital that the passing of the Bill is backed by investment in Budget 2025. At a minimum, an additional €3 Million is required to expand the Mental Health Commission’s regulatory remit and recruit more HSE Authorised Officers to support the involuntary admission process.
This is a huge opportunity for the Government to leave a historic legacy by delivering world-leading human rights-focused mental health legislation. Over the coming week, we look forward to reviewing the Mental Health Bill alongside our members and their service users, families, friends, carers, and supporters.
