Low spend on mental health is criticised

The body representing the country’s psychiatrists has described spending on mental health as “scandalously low”.

The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland criticised the continued slow pace of the delivery of the national mental health policy, A Vision for Change.

As a percentage of overall health spend, the budget for mental health had reduced from 13% in the 1980s to 6.2% in 2015. It pointed out that the budget for mental health as a percentage of overall health spend was 12% in both Britain and Canada, with New Zealand at 11%.