Call for urgent increase in mental health funding as services reach 'breaking point'

Consultants are calling for increased spending on Ireland’s mental health service. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Consultants are calling for increased spending on Ireland’s mental health services, as they warn that acute services are at “breaking point”.

Launching the Irish Hospital Consultants Association’s pre-budget submission on Tuesday, Mater Hospital consultant Dr Ger O’Connor warned that the Irish health service is facing a “perfect storm” as the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic meet the existing weaknesses of mental health services in Ireland.