Mick Wallace: Commission's 7m mental health pledge 'a drop in ocean'
Mick Wallace criticised the Commission's mental health funding, calling the Commission's 7 million pledge "a drop in the ocean". He argued Ireland's mental health services are underfunded and overburdened, citing spending rates, waiting lists and hospital occupancy pressures.
Main criticism
Wallace rejected the Commission's funding as inadequate, repeatedly describing the Commission's 7 million and later 8 million pledges as "a drop in the ocean" to emphasise the scale of the shortfall.
Comparative spending
He contrasted Ireland's mental health budget share of just 6% of total health spending with higher rates in other countries, citing Germany at 12%, Norway at 13.5% and France at 15%.
Service pressures in Ireland
Wallace highlighted operational strains: more than 3,300 children are waiting for a consultant appointment with the children and adolescent mental health service, and acute adult psychiatric units are operating at almost 90% occupancy compared with a safe level of 85%. He said the system remains medicalised with little or no public health talk therapy.
Funding gap and staffing needs
He referenced Commissioner Carriacadus's announcement that 7 million will be invested in projects to prevent depression and suicide and to support person-centred, community-based mental health services. Wallace also noted that in 2019 the HSC in Ireland admitted it needed 189 million to fully implement the staffing requirements set out in the "vision for change" plan, framing the Commission's 7 to 8 million as insufficient.
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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 Carriacadus 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 failure supply service. The Commission's 7 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 7 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean. The Commission's 8 million is a drop in the ocean.
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