The Government is being urged to stop underfunding mental health services and provide sufficient cash to deliver urgent reforms in the system.
Mental Health Reform believes €120 million is needed in Budget 2025 - which includes €40 million to maintain existing levels of service and a further €80 million to develop new services to address unmet needs.
Ber Grogan Policy and Research Manager with the organisation said the financial support being sought is not significant in the context of the overall budget.
“We’re asking for a very modest 6% of the overall health budget, which would equate to an additional €120 million,” she said.
“It’s a very, very small amount split across the community and voluntary sector for early intervention and prevention for the Government to meet its own commitments.”
File photo of a woman with mental health difficulties. Picture by: samuel wordley / Alamy Stock PhotoMs Grogan said mental health services have been significant strain on services since the COVID pandemic.
“They’ve seen a huge increase in demand for services - particularly since the beginning of COVID - without the requisite increase in funding,” she said.
“So, the demand has increased across communities but the funding isn’t there to meet that demand.”
Finance Minister Jack Chambers has already announced the Department of Health will be given an additional €1.5 billion to spend in this year’s budget.
Main image: A teenage girl wearing headphones sitting by the sea. Picture by: Alamy.com
