Mental Health Reform, the national coalition of organisations promoting better mental health services, has warned that any further cuts to mental health will lead to a complete collapse of the mental health services.
In response to Minister Reilly’s list of “nuclear options” which include a cut of up to €35 million to the mental health services, Mental Health Reform Director Orla Barry said: “Mental health services are already on their knees. They are creaking under the pressure all over the country. Any further cuts and the system is in danger of collapsing completely. ”
“Withdrawing this funding would put much needed modernisation of the mental health services at risk. Minister Lynch has said that a National Directorate for Mental Health Services would depend on her getting the money. If €35 million are cut we are going to go backwards”, Ms Barry warned.
“With Budget 2012 increasing financial pressure for people to such a huge extent, people’s mental health also comes under more pressure. When the services are not in place to deal with this, then Ireland faces a real problem.”, Ms Barry continued.
“Mental Health Reform strongly warns the Government against any short sighted cuts that will cost the state more in the long-term and urges people to voice their concerns in this regard with their local TDs”, Ms Barry concluded.
