Mick Wallace: Ireland spends just 6% on mental health, system strained
Mick Wallace warned that Ireland's mental health services are seriously underfunded and strained, citing comparative spending, long waits and high occupancy. He criticised a medicalised model with little public health talk therapy and highlighted recent investment figures and staffing shortfalls.
Funding levels
He said Ireland spends just 6% of its total health budget on mental health, compared with Germany at 12%, Norway at 13.5% and France at 15%.
Service strain
He noted more than 3,300 children are waiting for a consultant appointment with the children and adolescent mental health service, and that acute adult psychiatric units are operating at almost 90% occupancy, while the safe occupancy level is 85%.
Model and treatment gaps
He argued that the system is medicalised and that stakeholders agree this is a massive problem, pointing out there is little or no public health talk therapy available.
Funding commitments and shortfalls
He referenced Commissioner Cariacudis saying 7 million will be invested in projects to prevent depression and suicide and to support more person-centred, community-based mental health services. He also recalled that in 2019 the HSC in Ireland admitted it needed 189 million to fully implement the staffing requirements set out in a vision for change.
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Ireland spends just 6% of its total health budget on mental health. Germany spends 12%, Norway 13.5% and France 15%. More than 3,300 children are waiting for a consultant appointment with the children and adolescent mental health service in Ireland. Acute adult psychiatric units are operating at almost 90% occupancy, yet the safe occupancy level is at 85%. We have a medicalised mental health model that all stakeholders appear to agree is a massive problem. Yet, still, we have little or no public health talk therapy. In our statement last October, Commissioner Cariacudis said 7 million will be invested in projects to prevent depression and suicide and to support more person-centred, community-based mental health services. In 2019, the HSC in Ireland admitted that it needed 189 million to fully implement the staffing requirements alone that were set out in a vision for change that was going to deal with our mental health.
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