A charity in Cork, Shine A Light Suicide & Mental Health Awareness, is calling for greater funding for mental health services in response to the ongoing crisis affecting the city’s residents. The charity highlights the growing pressures on mental health, particularly due to real-life issues such as the rising cost of living and a shortage of housing, which have exacerbated feelings of stress, anxiety, and despair in the community.
Founded in 2009 following a series of suicides that deeply impacted the northside of Cork city, Shine A Light has been advocating for better mental health support and raising awareness around suicide prevention. The charity is urging both local and national governments to take more action to address the urgent mental health needs of the population.
Increased Funding, but Still Falling Short
In the 2025 health budget, mental health funding has seen an increase to nearly €1.5 billion, marking the fifth consecutive year of funding increases. This represents a significant 43.7% rise in funding over the past government’s term. However, despite this increase, mental health services in Ireland still account for only 5.8% of the total health budget.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recommends that countries allocate around 10% to 12% of their total health spending to mental health. This would align with international best practices for addressing mental health challenges comprehensively. Furthermore, Ireland’s own health program, Sláintecare, commits to ringfencing at least 10% of the health budget for mental health services, an important target that has yet to be fully realized.
Shine A Light emphasizes that while progress has been made, the funding is still insufficient to adequately address the growing mental health needs in Cork and across Ireland. The charity is calling for more targeted investment in mental health support, with particular focus on preventing suicides and providing accessible care for those affected by the mental health impacts of socio-economic issues.
The need for further investment is especially critical in light of the increasing pressures from the cost of living crisis and housing shortage, which are having a detrimental effect on the well-being of many individuals and families in the community. Shine A Light remains committed to raising awareness and pushing for policy changes that will ensure better mental health support for those in need.
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