Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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667. To ask the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence from any charity or organisation expressing concerns over a perceived increase in mental ill health or suicide rate since he took office; if so, the dates upon which he received such correspondence; the bodies he received such correspondence from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60808/22]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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668. To ask the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence from any consultant psychiatrist or college of psychiatry or general practitioner body or individual general practitioners expressing concerns over a perceived increase in mental ill health or suicide rates since he took office; if so, the dates upon which he received such correspondence; the persons or bodies he received same from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60809/22]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 667 and 668 together.

The Department of Health, including my Office and that of Minister Donnelly, regularly receives from many sources extensive correspondence in relation to mental health and suicide, including the issues raised in this case. In this context, it would simply not be practical to furnish the detailed information sought by the Deputy.

However, good progress being made in relation to the implementation of Connecting for Life, our national suicide reduction strategy. I announced, in November 2020, the extension of Connecting for Life, by four years to 2024. This followed a recommendation from the independent strategy review conducted in 2018. It reflects the many achievements to date and the hard work and dedication of multiple stakeholders. The National Office for Suicide Prevention responsible for the implementation of Connecting for Life and overseen by the Department has a €13 million allocation. The extension and continued implementation of Connecting for Life demonstrates the Government’s commitment to addressing suicide and self-harm in our communities. The strategy contains 69 actions with substantial progress on implementation being made throughout 2022. At the end of Q3, the latest reporting cycle showed that 50 actions were on track and 7 required further attention. 

In addition, the recently published Health in Ireland report highlighted that age standardised mortality rates have fallen significantly in relation to suicide (-32.6%) over the past decade. Ireland was below the EU average for suicide rates for both men and women up until 2017 (most recent available data), and the Health in Ireland report indicated that between 2017 and 2021 the suicide rate continued to decrease year on year in males and remained low in females.

Similarly, the recently published National Suicide Research Foundation Self-Harm registry report highlights relative stability in self-harm rates. Between 2010 and 2020, self-harm rates mostly decreased, with the male self-harm rate decreasing by 17% and the female self-harm rate decreasing by 5%. 

Additionally, from a policy and budgetary point of view, there have been significant improvements in the delivery of our mental health services over the past number of years. The Government is committed to ensuring their continued development throughout this year and into the future.

The Government’s clear commitment to enhancing mental health services, is shown by significant mental health funding increases in recent years. I was pleased to have secured an unprecedented level of funding of €1.2 billion in Budget 2023. This is supporting the continued implementation of new developments under our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision (2020-30), including out of hours supports, CAMHS services, crisis resolution team, the national clinical programmes, and specialist mental health services for older people.

Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan 2022 – 2024 was published on 23 March 2022.  The Plan sets out individual programme pathways of implementation for each of the 100 policy recommendations for the next three years. Additionally, official reporting has commenced with Status Implementation Reports and NIMC Analysis Documents published on a quarterly basis online. As of Q1 2022, 68 of the 100 recommendations are in implementation, with 51 marked on track.

Budget 2023 saw an increase of almost €58 million over core funding from 2022. Additional once-off funding of €10 million for Mental Health capital and €5 million for the Winter Fund will also be made available. €14 million is for new developments.

There are 6 additional Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses (SCAN) nurse posts funded through the National Clinical Programme for Self Harm and Suicide Related Ideation (NCPSHSI) for 2022, enhancing capacity to provide earlier interventions and person-centred care. This clinical programme has been running since 2014 and since its introduction, it has been rolled out across 25 Emergency Departments with 24-hour service. NCPSHSI which also targets non-Emergency Department services for crisis mental healthcare, improving services for those presenting with self-harm or suicidal ideation regardless of where they seek treatment, and introducing a SCAN to provide assessments in General Practice.

Telehealth services are fully established including YourMentalHealth.ie; the information line 1800 111 888, the crisis textline, 50808, and NGO online supports. These include youth specific supports, such as those provided through Jigsaw, SpunOut, and Turn2Me. The majority of telehealth supports are available seven days per week, with some providing 24hour support. In addition, the HSE has partnered with SilverCloud, on a national roll out of digital cognitive behaviour therapy to address depression and anxiety and to make mental health support more widely available.

In mid-2021, the Government approved a General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Mental Health Act. The General Scheme of a Bill was approved by Government and published in July 2021. Drafting is being progressed with the Office of Parliamentary Council and the Attorney General Office. A Pre-legislative Scrutiny Report was published  on 12th October last and recommendations of Joint Sub-Committee on Mental Health are being considered in drafting final text with OPC. The aim is to introduce to the Oireachtas as soon as possible.