UN: Money no excuse for failed mental health plan

MONEY should not be an issue when it comes delivering mental health services for people who are still marginalised and stigmatised in Irish society, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health has said.

Anand Grover yesterday told the conference of the Irish Mental Health Coalition that while the Government’s A Vision for Change document on mental health, published in 2006, was an “excellent” and “radical” document, it had not been implemented.

Mr Grover said he could not understand why money would prevent the Government delivering on the document, as the shift from mental health institutions to community care would mean significant amounts of capital should be available to reinvest in the services.