Press Release
Mental Health Reform welcomes the decision by Minister for Health Dr. James Reilly to proceed with the establishment of a new Directorate structure for the HSE, including the recruitment of a Director for Mental Health.
This decision comes on foot of today’s approval by the Government of the Heads of Bill, which will formally abolish the Board of the HSE and establish the new Directorate structure.
Mental Health Reform has been highlighting the urgent need for a Director to oversee the implementation of the Government’s mental health policy, A Vision for Change.
Director of Mental Health Reform, Orla Barry, commented on the decision, saying: “the new Director for Mental Health is crucial in order to oversee the €35 million committed to in Budget 2012 for community-based mental health services, and also to ensure that the staff promised in the HSE’s 2012 service plan are put in place by the end of the year.”
“A Director will bring much-needed dedicated national leadership, to ensure that the budget for mental health services is used in the most effective way to deliver the Government’s mental health policy”, concluded Ms. Barry.
Ends
For more Information please contact:
Lara Kelly at lkelly@mentalhealthreform.combinedmedia.com
087 6189715
Notes to the Editor:
Mental Health Reform promotes improved and prioritised mental health services in Ireland.
A Vision for Change is the Government policy for mental health. It was first published in 2006 with an implementation target of 10 years. It marks the departure from an overly medicalised service based in institutions to a modern, multi-disciplinary, recovery-focused and community based mental health service.
