Mental health funding ‘piecemeal, inadequate and short-sighted’, charities say

The Government’s funding model for mental health services is “piecemeal, inadequate and short-sighted”, according to a coalition of organisations working in the sector.
More than 60 leaders from the voluntary and community sector on Wednesday signed an open letter calling on Taoiseach Simon Harris to increase funding for mental health services by €120 million in next month’s budget in order to address “severe deficits” in the system.
Philip Watt, interim chief executive of Mental Health Reform, which published the letter, said the proportion of the health budget allocated to mental health has not surpassed 6 per cent over the past decade, with the Government having “perpetually failed” to meet a target of 10 per cent.
“Persistent underfunding is having a long-term impact on the mental health system,” he said. “People face long delays for treatment, inconsistent standards of care, and severe staffing shortages. Children and families in particular are unable to access appropriate or timely intervention.”
Mr Watt said demand for services has risen but there has been “little to no sustainable funding increase for the sector” in recent years.
“The Government’s funding model is piecemeal, inadequate and short-sighted. The lack of multiannual funding impacts the sector’s ability to recruit and retain staff and hampers the development of vital services that are needed now.”
The letter was signed by, among other, the chief executives of Pieta, Jigsaw, Barnardos, Alone, Bodywhys, Shine and St Patrick’s Mental Health Services.
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A Department of Health spokeswoman said the total allocation for mental health services for this year was more than €1.3 billion, “a record funding level and an increase for the fourth year in a row”.
“Since 2020 the mental health budget has increased by €274.2 million, an increase of almost 27 per cent. €87.13 million of this has been allocated since 2020 to new developments in mental health services,” she said. “Between year-end 2019 and March 2024, mental health services have seen a net growth of 916 posts, 86 per cent of these posts are for those involved directly in client care.”