Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

375. To ask the Minister for Health if a contrasting document will be produced to highlight the differences between the new Sharing the Vision - a Mental Health Policy for Everyone 2020-2030 and A Vision For Change documents [12694/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The national mental health policy, A Vision for Change, endedits ten-year term in 2016, having been the cornerstone of mental health policy in Ireland since its publication in 2006. The Department of Health led the review of this policy, with a view to the development of a successor document which would continue the process of modernising mental health services and effectively promoting mental health.

The terms of reference for the refresh did not assume the need for a whole new policy document or a complete examination of policy from first principles, but rather to build on the good foundations of A Visionfor Change, particularly given that many of its principles remained valid in terms of good practice, and simply required updating and extending to reflect the best of current thinking and evolving practices in the sector.

Preparations for a review and update of the policy commenced with the commissioning in February 2017 of an Expert Evidence Review by the Work Research Centre (WRC) to inform the parameters of the planned refresh of mental health policy in Ireland.  The approach encompassed a stock-take of recent success in mental health and  a review of international developments, innovation, evidence and good practice. The review had a broad brief covering the various dimensions of the mental health terrain that might have relevance for informing the refresh of mental health policy in Ireland.

The key priorities that emerged out of the review were:

- The prioritisation of mentalhealth in Ireland as a major societal issue

- The importance of primary prevention and positive mental health

- A requirement to focus on social inclusion and recovery

- Expansion of mental health services to address the spectrum of conditions and needs

- Development of governance and financing to include research, evaluation and quality assurance

The WRC completed a supplementary paper to build on the work in the External Evidence Review, which identified specific policy changes for which a requirement may have arisen since A Vision for Change was drafted. The review identified policy themes that might require attention in the refresh such as the identification of vulnerable groups and associated actions not mentioned in the previous policy. The report also sought to consider new policy areas including a wider focus on education and prevention, and the wider use of accredited digital health interventions. In addition, the report sought to evaluate each recommendation from the previous policy and to rate progress to date on what actions were implemented, what relevant actions remained and what actions were no longer needed. Both WRC reports assisted in identifying priority areas for the newly formed Oversight Group to consider as they drafted their report for the Department of Health. Both reports will be made available on the Department of Health website.