Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Mental Health Services: Discussion

Ms Fiona Coyle:

There are two aspects to the reforming. I will speak to one and pass over the other to my colleague, Ms Grogan. We have already spoken about the need for a cross-governmental approach so that we break down this notion that mental health is for the Department of Health alone. We need to look more broadly at it and we need to have meaningful engagement and commitment as well as money and investment from other Departments. Quite often what has happened is that a Department would be willing but when it would come to putting money on the table, it would look to see whether the Department of Health provided the funding there. That is something that has to change. The Sharing the Vision document outlines very well that necessary reform of moving to a system where service users have such a say in their mental health journey. Everyone who accesses mental health services may need a different service, everyone's journey is unique and we need a service that has those doors for people to open. There is a lot there. On the reform of the Act, maybe I can pass over to Ms Grogan to quickly make one or two points in relation to what needs to reform in that regard.