Mental Health Reform Welcomes Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care
Mental Health Reform, the national coalition on mental health, has today welcomed the passage through the Dáil of a motion to establish an Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care.
Speaking after the Dáil session this afternoon, Shari McDaid, Director, said, “The establishment of an Oireachtas Committee on mental health with significant powers sends an important message about the priority of mental health as an issue across all parties and that mental health deserves parity of esteem with physical health.”
“It is vital that this committee’s work results in real improvements in mental health service delivery. The committee must forensically examine implementation of mental health policy to date and the availability, accessibility and quality of mental health care throughout the State. The committee must be allocated adequate administrative support and external expertise in order to deliver on its objectives. The committee should be able to make interim findings that can be acted upon immediately. Key to the success of the committee’s work will be incorporating monitoring and timely and effective implementation of its own recommendations,” continued Dr. McDaid.
“With this committee, over the next twelve months mental health could at last have the focus in the Oireachtas that it deserves,” concluded Dr. McDaid.
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 59 member organisations. 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 2016-2019.
For more information please contact:
Kate Mitchell
Senior Policy & Research Officer
Mental Health Reform
Coleraine House
Coleraine St
Dublin 7
Tel. 086 024 5409
