Mental Health Reform calls protest against cuts
Following recent reports that the bulk of the €35 million promised in Budget 2012 for the development of community mental health services was going to be used to offset the HSE deficit, Mental Health Reform called a last minute protest on Friday 7th September 2012. MHR Director Orla Barry called the threatened cuts "wholly unacceptable". With less than 24 hours notice, around 60 people gathered at Government Buildings in Dublin to voice their anger.
The crowd included representatives from the National Service Users Executive, Bodywhys, Amnesty International Ireland, the Irish Advocacy Network, Migrant Rights Centre, Dual Diagnosis, Gateway, Turn 2 Me, SpunOut, Trinity College Student Union and USI. Read more about our concerns here.
|
Update on budget threats
Following the reported threats to the mental health budget, Minister Kathleen Lynch released a statement, giving assurances that the majority of the 414 posts for community mental health, suicide prevention and counselling would be in place by the end of the year. Given that similar assurances had been made earlier in 2012, Mental Health Reform has now asked for a written assurance that this will happen. Our upcoming Pre-Budget Campaign will be another chance for the public to get behind mental health and to insist that the Government keep its promises on mental health.
|
HSE Governance Bill
In July 2012, Minister for Health Dr. James Reilly got Cabinet approval for the establishment of a new structure for the HSE, including a new directorate of mental health. Under the HSE Governance Bill, the board of the HSE will be abolished and a new directorate system for running the health service will be established. Mental Health Reform has long called for the appointment of a Director for Mental Health with budgetary control.
However, we have some concerns that that the current HSE Governance Bill will not be enough to ensure accountability for the Government’s mental health policy. We also strongly believe that the new Director for Mental Health must have the competency to drive the implementation of A Vision for Change. As the Dáil resumes on 18th September, we will lobby Oireachtas members and ask them to support our recommendations during the debate on the Bill.
You can read Mental Health Reform's full submission on the HSE Governance Bill here.
|
Monaghan Consultative meeting
In August, Mental Health Reform travelled to Monaghan to meet members of the Solas Resource Centre, a peer led support service for people using the mental health services in Monaghan. We explained our Agenda for Action, and heard from the group about their perspectives on the mental health services, including very positive feedback on the benefits of home-based care, not only for the person receiving care but also for the family members and carers.Thanks to all at Solas for the warm welcome.
|
|
E-action to TDs - Update
Back in July, Mental Health Reform asked you to email your local TDs over the summer, to ask them to prioritise community mental health services. In all, almost 800 emails have been sent to TDs so far. If you haven't emailed your TD yet, you can still do so here. And if you received a reply from your local representative, let us know what they said by emailing Lara on lkelly@mentalhealthreform.ie.
Counties Cavan, Clare, Dublin, Mayo, Wexford and Wicklow sent the most emails, with Louth and Donegal lagging behind a little. Thanks to everyone for your support.
|
Pre-Budget Campaign
In the run up to December's budget, Mental Health Reform will launch a national campaign to lobby the Government to continue to invest in mental health, including an additional allocation of €35 million in 2013 for the implementation of A Vision for Change, as promised in the Programme for Government 2011-2016.
Minister Lynch has advised that the focus for funding in 2013 will be mental health services for groups including old age psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and people with an intellectual disability. We will also be asking for the appointment of the long-promised Director for Mental Health. The campaign will kick off on 1st October, with an online and offline petition. Keep an eye on the Mental Health Reform homepage next month for more news on this. |
Volunteers needed
As part of our pre-budget campaign, we'll be taking out petition to college campuses and shopping centres around Ireland. If you'd like to help out or simply come along and support the campaign, get in touch with Lara on lkelly@mentalhealthreform.ie or find us at the following locations:
Thurs 27 Sept. Athlone IT, 11am-2pm
Thurs 27 Sept. Athlone Shopping Centre 3-5pm
Thurs 4 Oct, Galway Mayo IT, 12.00-2.30pm
Thurs 4 Oct, NUI Galway, 3.00-6.00pm
Mon 8 Oct, NCAD 12-4pm
Tue 9 Oct, UCD, all day
Fri 12 Oct, Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre
Tue 16 Oct, NUI Maynooth, 12-3.00pm
Thurs 18 Oct, Parkway and Arthur's Quay Centres, Limerick
Tue 23, Thurs 25 Oct, TCD, 12-3.00pm
Thurs 1 Oct. Eyre Square Centre, Galway, 12-4pm
Wed 7 Nov, Dundalk IT, 12-3.00pm
Wed 7 Nov, Marshes Centre, Dundalk, 3-6pm
Thurs 8 Nov, Waterford IT, 12.00-4.00pm
Tue 13 Nov, Manor Mills Centre, Maynooth, 12-3pm
Mon 19 Nov, Dun Laoghaire College of Art & Design, pm
Tue 20 Nov, St. Pat's Drumcondra, 12.00-3.00pm
Thurs 22 Nov, Cork IT, 12.00-3.00pm
Mon 26 Nov, Sligo IT, 12.00-2.00pm
Mon 26 Nov, Johnstown Centre, Sligo, 3-5pm
|
|
|
|
