As the political parties and Independents digest the measures announced in Budget 2018, we bring you their comments and reaction.

Thousands of children are on waiting lists for key psychological appointments, with more than 1,700 children already delayed by more than a year.

People using mental health services feel they have little control over their own lives.

A new report says two thirds of mental health service users living in the community do not know how to make a complaint about their care.

Distressed children do not have guaranteed access to mental health services at two of the country’s busiest emergency departments (EDs) because of a staffing crisis.

The need for 24/7 crisis community-based mental health services was raised with the Mental Health Minister Helen McEntee yesterday when she was handed a petition signed by 12,000 people demanding better services.

Mental health difficulties start to emerge before the age of 25 in 70% of adults suffering from the condition, a leading psychiatrist told the Oireachtas committee on the future of healthcare.

Young people, singletons, and unskilled workers accounted for some of the highest admission rates to psychiatric units last year, according to a report from the Health Research Board (HRB).

Almost one in five children were admitted to adult psychiatric units last year even though beds were available in the child and adolescent services.

Just under half of the HSE’s community mental health services provide support seven days a week, it has emerged.

Mental health is the biggest single reason given for income protection claims, it has emerged.

Ireland will accept dozens more refugees in the coming weeks ahead of an expected increase in migrants attempting dangerous crossings into Europe.

A series of protests have taken place around the country to protest at cuts to mental health funding.

The Department of Health is said to be considering moving funding ring-fenced for mental health services to more politically sensitive areas.

The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is a crucial response to one of our most significant public health problems. Alcohol misuse claims three lives every day in Ireland and we all know someone who has been affected in a harmful way by alcohol use — it is all too common.

A national coalition will this evening urge voters in the upcoming general election to make mental health a priority.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime

This letter is an urgent appeal from 14 organisations who work with children to call on An Taoiseach to show leadership on the issue of child homelessness.

The country’s “bleeding” mental health services are severely under-resourced and significantly under-staffed, making it harder for people to access treatment, according to a new report by Mental Health Reform (MHR).

The implementation of the Government’s mental health policy is “incomplete and uneven”, according to a national organisation which aims to improve mental health services nationwide.

Your editorial (‘Mental health system — Time for a radical overhaul’, March 27) rightly highlights the fact that community mental health teams for children and adolescents are struggling with increased demand.

One in seven children and teenagers referred for mental health treatment are still waiting a year or more to access appropriate services, according to the Children’s Mental Health Coalition.

Mental Health Reform has criticised a major acute hospital for leaving patients at risk of suicide in its busy and overcrowded emergency department for hours on end.

Just 4% of the 477 mental health staff promised in 2013 had been recruited by the end of September according to Mental Health Reform (MHR), prompting them to question if next year’s budget allocation will translate into staff on the ground.