Budget 2021 allocation to mental health deemed 'totally inadequate'

The Psychiatric Nurses Association said the allocation of €50 million to mental health in reality represented an extra €38 million with €12 million earmarked to support existing levels of services. File image

The budgetary allocation of €50 million for mental health is just 1% of the overall health budget for 2021 and is “totally inadequate” to meet the growing demand for services and support a new mental health strategy, the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) has said.

The PNA has rounded on government for failing to properly fund the new Sharing the Vision mental health strategy or provide enough funding to meet the mounting level of demand for mental health services in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.