2011
ELECTION
MANIFESTO
SUMMARY
Make mental health reform a priority
Improving mental health services is an essential part of political and social reform in Ireland. The
quality of mental health services has a major impact on us all – one in four people experience a
mental health difficulty during their lives.
Improving mental health
services is an essential part of
political and social reform in
Ireland. The quality of mental
health services has a major
impact on us all – one in four
people experience a mental
health difficulty during their
lives.
A Vision for Change
We need to move to
comprehensive community based
services, as set out in Ireland’s
mental health services reform plan
A Vision for Change.
Since launched in 2006,
implementation of A Vision for
Change has been slow leaving
mental health to continue as the
‘Cinderella’ of the health services.
At the current rate of progress it
will not be implemented - even by
the outside target of 2016.
More information W: www.mentalhealthreform.ie E: info@mentalhealthreform.ie
FIVE KEY REFORMS
1. Establish an Accountable
Structure
Establish a dedicated executive
position at the highest level of the
HSE that is responsible for
implementing A Vision for Change.
This should be led by a Director
for Mental Health Services who
has executive powers, an
implementation budget and
responsibility to report publicly on
progress.
2. Publish a Plan
Publish a comprehensive
implementation plan for A Vision
for Change setting out
deliverables, a timeline and who is
responsible.
3. Financial Commitment
Commit to raising funding of
mental health services from 5% to
8% of the health budget by 2016
and to clear reporting on mental
health spending.
4. Enact Legislation
Enact legislation to improve the
health service’s accountability for
planning and financing mental
health service reform.
5. Promote Cross-departmental
Action
Promote specific cross-
departmental action on mental
health and the implementation of
the National Disability Strategy to
effectively combat social exclusion,
prejudice and discrimination
against people with mental health
problems.
Mental Health Reform
Mental Health Reform was
established in 2006 (then called
the Irish Mental Health Coalition)
as a coalition of organisations
campaigning for improved mental
health services. It is committed to
placing mental health in a central
position within the public discourse
for reform.
T: (01) 822 7752
2011
ELECTION
MANIFESTO Make mental health reform a priority
• Improving mental health services is an essential part of political
and social reform in Ireland.
• The quality of mental health services has a major impact on us
all – one in four people experience a mental health difficulty
during their lives.
• Community Mental Health services, the cornerstone of a modern
mental health services, are poorly resourced in favour of
expensive inpatient facilities - including old institutions unfit for
purpose.
• Demand on mental health services increases at time of
economic and social recession – as evidenced by the growing
number of suicides which increased by 25% in 2009.
• Mental health funding is at its lowest level in modern history at
just 5% of the HSE budget.

A Vision for Change FIVE KEY REFORMS

We need to move to
comprehensive community
based services, as set out in
Ireland’s mental health services
reform plan A Vision for Change.
Since launched in 2006,
implementation of A Vision for
Change has been slow leaving
mental health to continue as the
‘Cinderella’ of the health
services. At current rates of
progress it will not be
implemented - even by the
outside target of 2016.
1. Establish a Structure
The Problem
A Vision for Change has no
single senior executive within
the HSE who is responsible for
execution. As a result
responsibility falls between the
cracks and no-one can be held
accountable for ongoing slow
progress.
The Solution
Establish a dedicated senior
executive position within the
HSE which is responsible for
implementing A Vision for
Change. This should be led by a
Director for Mental Health
Services who has executive
powers, an implementation
budget and responsibility to
publicly report on progress.

More information W: www.mentalhealthreform.ie E: info@mentalhealthreform.ie T: (01) 822 7752

2011
ELECTION
MANIFESTO
2. Publish a Plan
The Problem
A Vision for Change has no
comprehensive implementation
plan, meaning it is impossible to
measure and scrutinise
progress.
The Solution
Publish a detailed
implementation plan setting out
deliverables, a timeline and who
is responsible.
3. Financial Commitment
The Problem
Mental health services in Ireland
are underfunded. Mental health
received approximately 5% of
the health budget in 2010
having dropped from 13% in
1986. This compares
unfavourably with 12% in
England and 18% in Scotland.
There is a lack of transparency
as mental health funding is
administered from within the
overall HSE budget.
Progress on closing
inappropriate Victorian mental
institutions in particular has
been slow. In many cases this
has been delayed by a lack of
resources to develop the
community based mental health
teams.
Mental health services have
experienced a disproportionate
loss of staff as a result of the
public sector staff moratorium.
20% of posts lost in the HSE in
2010 were from mental health
services even though the care
group represents just 9% of the
workforce.
More information W: www.mentalhealthreform.ie E: info@mentalhealthreform.ie
The Solution
Bring the proportion of funding
on mental health services to 8%
of the health budget by 2016, as
set out in A Vision for Change.
Ensure clear reporting on
mental health spending.
Fastrack funding to provide
improved community based
services. When old institutions
are closed lands can be sold
reclaiming money for the
taxpayer.
Recruit additional staff to work
in community based mental
health teams to bring the
reduction in staff numbers in
mental health services into line
with that experienced in other
areas of the health service.
4. Enact Legislation
The Problem
There is no legal framework to
require the health service to
implement A Vision for Change.
There is out-of-date legislation
to protect people who lack
capacity, because of a mental
health difficulty, to be able to
make decisions for themselves.
Mental health is not sufficiently
recognised and included within
the targets of the National
Disability Strategy.
The Solution
Enact legislation that places
obligations on the HSE to plan,
deliver and report on A Vision
for Change and that provides for
inspection of community-based
mental health services.
T: (01) 822 7752
2011
ELECTION
MANIFESTO
Enact comprehensive capacity
legislation that complies with the
UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities.
Ensure that mental health is
promoted and acknowledged as
an integral part of delivering the
National Disability Strategy.
5. Promote Cross-departmental
Action
The Problem
Many people with mental health
difficulties face discrimination in
many areas of their life –
securing jobs, getting housing
and socialising.
People with a mental health
disability participate in the Irish
labour force at less than half the
rate of the general population.
Few specific measures have
been taken on mental health
within the National Disability
Strategy, or in other social
inclusion programmes.
The Solution
Promote specific cross-
departmental action on mental
health. Departments covering
social welfare, education,
employment and housing
should set out how they will
implement A Vision for Change.
Commit to implementing the
National Disability Strategy to
effectively combat social
exclusion, prejudice and
discrimination against people
with mental health problems
and support the structures
required to monitor and drive
the Strategy under the direction
of the Department of An
Taoiseach.
Ensure that specific measures
are taken to improve access to
employment and housing for
people with a mental health
problem.

Mental Health Reform

Mental Health Reform was established in 2006 (then called the Irish
Mental Health Coalition) as a coalition of the founding organisations which
include Amnesty International Ireland, Bodywhys – The Eating Disorders
Association, Grow, the Irish Advocacy Network and Shine. Mental Health
Reform is currently expanding its membership and is committed to placing
mental health in a central position within the public discourse for reform.

More information W: www.mentalhealthreform.ie E: info@mentalhealthreform.ie T: (01) 822 7752