Amnesty calls for removal of barriers to mental health reform
The human rights organisation published a report today outlining how effective monitoring mechanisms would drive progress in mental health reform.
“There are key barriers holding up the reform, including an inability by the Health Service Executive to effectively track funding, the moratorium on staffing and a failure to monitor the progress of reform and transformation.
“These barriers must be addressed, said Amnesty International Ireland executive director Colm O’Gorman.
He said the implementation of the Government’s mental health policy – A Vision for Change, was painfully slow.
“There continues to be an over-reliance on crisis care and long stays in hospital instead of a properly resourced community-based mental health service,” he said.
The report by Indecon International Economic Consultants emphasises the need to set goals that effectively monitor financial accountability, performance in terms of staffing and facilities, the quality of services and the outcome for those accessing services.
In particular, it urges the Government to consider using the law to drive the delivery of fully staffed community health teams.
“People’s lives – their ability to recover, to live a full life in the community, to work, maintain family contacts – are at stake here. We must act now,” said Mr O’Gorman.
Irish people deserved a mental health service that not only met the state’s international human rights requirements but actually improved the lives of those who used it.
Mr O’Gorman said mental health must be made a political priority and the Government must show its commitment to reform.
Director of the Irish Mental Health Coalition Caroline McGrath said it was totally unacceptable that four years after the launch of A Vision for Change the proportion of health budget spending on mental health was decreasing.
She claimed the 2010 HSE service plan allocated only 5.4% of the total health spend to mental health, a figure that fell far short of the 8.24% recommended in A Vision for Change.
“The situation cannot be explained or excused by the economic situation. It is the result of the absence of basic and effective management systems and accountability,” she said.
