Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 7 November 2023

Committee on Mental Health

Mental Health Care for Migrants and Ethnic Minorities: Discussion

Ms Emilia Marchelewska:

To make sure everything does not fall on the shoulders of social inclusion, when looking at all the implementation plans or strategies, it is important responsibility is assigned and shared. That collaborative spirit should be fostered, so there is collaboration between different HSE departments, the Department of Health and other community partners. We receive core funding from the HSE's social inclusion and special projects, Dublin north city, and we also receive specific funding from CHO 6 and CHO 7, which collaborate with the national social inclusion office. We are, of course, grateful for their support and dedication. As I said, that co-operation and co-production in the approach should be emphasised more.

If more focus was put on mental health schemes, that would be a great improvement. Even if we focus on the implementation of the recommendations, for instance, sharing in the mental health promotion plan, that is a good start.