Mental Health

Responsibilities

Policy formulation in the area of Mental Health and suidice prevention.
Facilitate and monitor implementation of 'A Vision for Change' – the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health and ‘Reach Out' – the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention.
Monitor and evaluate HSE performance in relation to mental health services.
Ongoing monitoring of the Mental Health Acts 2001 and 2008 and the appropriateness of the Mental Health legislative framework.
Oversight of Mental Health Commission.

Staff

Principal Officer	Luke Mulligan
Assistant Principal Officer	Joan Regan	Sandra Walsh

Contact

Telephone: 01 - 635 4000
Fax: 01 - 635 4373

The Mental Health Commission

The Mental Health Commission was established in April 2002 and its primary function is to promote and foster high standards and good practices in the delivery of mental health services and to ensure that the interests of detained persons are protected.

The Commission is based at St. Martin’s House, Waterloo Road, Dublin 4 and can be contacted at 01 6362400. Visit the website of the Mental Health Commission.

National Office of Suicide Prevention (NOSP)

In September 2005, 'Reach Out' - a National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention, 2005-2014 was launched. The strategy provides a policy framework for suicide prevention activities in Ireland. The strategy calls for a multi-sectoral approach to the prevention of suicidal behaviour in order to foster cooperation between health, education, community, voluntary and private sector agencies. The HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) oversees the implementation of the strategy.

The NOSP is based at Dr, Steeven’s Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin 8 and can be contacted at 01 6352179. Visit the Website of the National Office for Suicide Prevention

'A Vision for Change' Independent Monitoring Group

In August 2003, an Expert Group on Mental Health Policy was appointed to prepare a new national framework for mental health services. Following an extensive consultation process, the Group’s report 'A Vision for Change' was published in January 2006. The Second Indpendent Monitoring Group was appointed on 11th June 2009.

Progress on the implementation of the Report’s recommendations is monitored and assessed by this Group who report annually to the Minister.

The members of the current Group are:

Mr John Saunders, Director, Shine (Chair)
Ms Siobhan Barron, National Disability Authority
Mr Brendan Byrne, former Director of Nursing, Carlow
Dr Pat Devitt, Inspector of Mental Health Services
Mr Paul Gilligan, Independent Psychiatric Hospital Group,
Ms Sandra Walsh, Department of Health and Children
Dr John Hillery, Consultant, Stewart’s Hospital
Dr Terry Lynch, GP and Psychotherapist
Mr Tim O’Malley, Pharmacist
Mr John Redican, National Executive Officer, National Service User Executive
Dr Margaret Webb, Eastern Vocational Enterprises Ltd.

Terms of Reference

To monitor and assess progress on the implementation of all the recommendations in 'A Vision for Change';

To make recommendations in relation to the manner in which the recommendations are implemented;

To report to the Minister annually on progress made towards implementing the recommendations of the Report and to publish the report