Mental health funding - Fighting the good fight

As reality comes calling, sometimes bringing the cruellest of cuts to what we came to regard as normal, virtually every advocacy group has had to cut its cloth to a new, far less splendid measure.

Some of these groups feel unfairly treated, hard done by and unappreciated. And of course some are, but others enjoyed the munificence of a system that believed their resources boundless.

One area that did not enjoy any particular improvement in the support it receives from the State was the whole area of mental health services. Junior Health Minister Kathleen Lynch, as we report today, has been a particular advocate of these services and anyone, or any of their families, who needs mental health support services will recognise much more needs to be done.

Therefore any politician who refuses to cede ground on this vital issue is to be congratulated.