Dr. Charles O'Mahony:

We have not developed community mental health services in Ireland. No alternatives have been developed. There is a funding stream into a very biomedical system, which might explain why there is a different approach in different jurisdictions. One of the recommendations in our report on mental health reform was that consideration be given to a right to community mental health services. A Vision for Change, which is largely unimplemented, was predicated on the notion of developing community mental health services but we have not seen the development of those services. A right to community mental health services in the amending legislation would be welcome. It would signal a commitment to moving to alternatives and away from coercion, which is something that should be given serious consideration.