The Social Democrats today published proposals to address chronic underinvestment by successive governments in mental health services in Ireland.<\/p>\n
The party\u2019s mental health policy was launched by Cllr Liam Quaide, Cork East general election candidate and clinical psychologist.<\/p>\n
The document outlines how, in government, the Social Democrats will set a pathway towards allocating 10 per cent of the total health budget to mental health services by the end of 2030.<\/p>\n
To address both the short-term and medium-term needs of our health and social care sector, the party would establish a national workforce task force.<\/p>\n
This is essential so we can fully staff Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) teams and expand Adult Community Mental Health Teams, and significantly reduce waiting times.<\/p>\n
We would expand CAMHS to cover young people up to age 25, in line with international best practice, and improve focus on early intervention.<\/p>\n
The Soc Dems also believe that mental health practitioners in the community and voluntary sector, including Section 39 workers, should be paid fairly for the work they are doing.<\/p>\n
The party will aim for a situation where, by the end of one term of government, all primary and secondary schools have at least one specialist emotional counsellor\/therapist as a permanent member of staff.<\/p>\n
Other proposals include expediting the implementation of State regulation of counselling, psychotherapy and psychology professions under CORU.<\/p>\n
Cllr Liam Quaide said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe policy we are launching today sets out the Social Democrats\u2019 vision for properly resourced, recovery-oriented, community-based mental health services to provide support to those experiencing mild-moderate to severe and enduring mental health difficulties.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur priorities include the immediate lifting of HSE recruitment restrictions currently in force through the Government’s Pay and Numbers Strategy to address critical staffing needs in Primary Care Psychology Services, where waiting-lists have escalated into the thousands for young people in some parts of the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe failure to resource primary care is putting young people at greater risk of requiring CAMHS. What we need is each level of mental health service provision properly resourced so that shortfalls are not impacting at other levels. For instance, Early Intervention Psychosis Services can prevent the development of chronic mental health difficulties.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Social Democrats will address the longstanding neglect of particularly vulnerable groups of service-users by previous governments. This can be achieved by the funding of specialist, community-integrated services for people with complex and enduring mental health difficulties and for those with co-existing intellectual disability and mental health difficulties.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis policy also recognises the foundational importance of the first three years of life to later mental health and development by supporting the development of specialist Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough consultation with professionals, our mental health policy will be kept under constant review to ensure that it is meeting the needs of service users.\u201d<\/p>\n