Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The campaign is specifically designed to change negative attitudes and to promote positive attitudes to mental health. The campaign was developed by the National Office for Suicide Prevention in partnership with key voluntary and statutory agencies working in the area of mental health in Ireland.

I assure the House of my personal commitment to the provision of quality care in the area of mental health, to upholding the civil and human rights of those who suffer from mental illness and to encouraging measures aimed at combating the stigma that is so often associated with such illness. I welcome the establishment of the Office for Disability and Mental Health, announced by the Taoiseach on Wednesday, 30 January 2008. The office will support me in the exercise of my functions in relation to disability and mental health across four Departments. In regard to mental health, the office will focus in particular on driving the implementation of A Vision for Change and will, I am confident, lead to more coherent policy making and the more effective use of resources. The establishment of this office makes the political commitment to mental health by the Government a reality.

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