A coalition of mental health organizations has criticized the Government’s funding model for mental health services, describing it as “piecemeal, inadequate, and short-sighted.” More than 60 leaders from the voluntary and community sector signed an open letter on Wednesday urging Taoiseach Simon Harris to increase mental health funding by €120 million in the upcoming budget to address what they describe as severe deficiencies in the system.
Philip Watt, the interim chief executive of Mental Health Reform, which coordinated the letter, expressed concerns over the Government’s long-standing failure to adequately fund mental health services. Watt noted that over the past decade, mental health funding has never exceeded 6% of the overall health budget, despite a government target of 10%.
“Chronic underfunding is having lasting consequences on the mental health system,” said Watt. “Patients experience long delays in accessing treatment, care standards are inconsistent, and there is a severe shortage of staff. This issue is particularly troubling for children and families, who are often unable to access timely or appropriate care.”
Watt also highlighted the growing demand for mental health services, noting that despite this increase, funding for the sector has seen little to no sustainable growth in recent years. “The current model is fragmented and short-term in its approach. Without multiannual funding commitments, the sector struggles to recruit and retain staff, which in turn undermines the development of critical services.”
The letter was signed by the heads of several prominent organizations, including Pieta, Jigsaw, Barnardos, Alone, Bodywhys, Shine, and St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, all of whom expressed concern over the funding crisis.
In response, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health defended the government’s financial support for mental health services. She stated that this year’s allocation exceeds €1.3 billion—a record level of funding, marking the fourth consecutive year of increases.
“Since 2020, the mental health budget has grown by €274.2 million, reflecting a nearly 27% increase,” the spokeswoman said. “Of this, €87.13 million has been allocated specifically to new developments in mental health services. Additionally, between the end of 2019 and March 2024, the mental health sector saw a net gain of 916 staff members, with 86% of these posts dedicated to direct patient care.”
Despite these assurances, charities argue that the current funding still falls far short of addressing the growing need and systemic issues within the mental health sector.
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