Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 8 March 2022
Joint Committee On Health
General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed)
Dr. Harry Gijbels:
It is difficult to say if there is a particular country doing well in all areas. There are countries that are doing well in particular areas, including legislation and practice. I refer again to the WHO guidance, which has many examples from different areas right across the globe. It is a very comprehensive document. I mentioned a good example in Ireland with the West Cork Home Focus team that has been going for years. There are good examples in Norway, which has drug-free mental health units. It is difficult to point out a country that is expert at everything and different countries are expert at different things. Italy, of course, is known for community-based healthcare. The committee should really look at examples of good practice right across the globe, and again I refer to the WHO document.