Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Sharing the Vision2020-2030, our national mental health policy, and its associated Implementation Plan2022-2024 recognises that talk therapies should be available as a first-line treatment option for most people who experience mental health difficulties.

Counselling in Primary Care (CIPC) is an effective service which achieves positive outcomes for clients with additional benefits for overall physical and mental health. The model of service provides for up to 8 sessions in addition to the initial assessment appointment with a professionally qualified and accredited Counsellor/Therapist for adults 18+ with a medical card.

Findings from the CIPC National Evaluation Study published in 2022 found positive outcomes for clients with additional benefits for overall physical and mental health identified by direct client feedback and endorsed by GPs.

The service is generally offered for a maximum of 8 sessions. However, the evaluation study found that participants attended an average of 7 sessions ranging from 1 to 23 sessions, reflecting how counsellors/therapists tailored counselling to the needs of the client. Some clients who were referred to CIPC required more intensive intervention than is appropriate for a short-term counselling service.

CIPC offers a positive therapeutic experience which facilitates many of these clients to subsequently engage with other mental health services which they may not have accessed otherwise. Counsellors/therapists actively support such individuals to seek onward referral to other secondary or specialist services where appropriate.

Further information on the findings of the review is available www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/counsellingpc/cipc-national-evaluation/changing-lives-for-the-better-exec-summary-june-2022.pdf.