Kathleen Lynch ‘hopeful’ of €35m for mental health services

Minister of State Kathleen Lynch has said she is “hopeful” of delivering an additional €35 million from Brendan Howlin in next week’s budget, which she believes will “secure” the State’s mental health infrastructure.

Ms Lynch was speaking after Mental Health Reform, a national coalition of 54 organisations, presented her with a petition signed by 6,500 people calling for increased investment in mental health.

“The Cabinet is meeting as we speak and I’m always conscious that those 15 people will be determining our fate one way or another, whether it’s in relation to housing, health, employment or mental health – they will all be on the table,” she said.

“If we do manage to get the additional money this year in relation to mental health – that €35 million development money – then I believe that we have secured the service itself, even though that will always change. The needs will always change.”

In terms of targeted initiatives, Ms Lynch, who is Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Primary Care and Mental Health, said she would increase the focus on primary care, and that a “significant plan” is already in place.

“I believe we now need to progress and move much more into primary care and development within communities,” she said.

“That should be the focus for the future because we don’t want everybody funnelled into one particular system.

“We want there to be a range of options and if we get the €35 million this year we’re already working on a significant plan in relation to primary and community development.”

Ms Lynch said she had discussed the matter with Mr Howlin early on Thursday morning and that he was “deeply committed” to the mental health service.

“I suppose it’s been an ongoing discussion for about the last three months,” she said.

“I’m always hopeful. I’m the eternal optimist and I know that not just himself but others as well are deeply committed to ensuring our services in relation to mental health and psychiatric services would be further developed.”

As well as the €35 million for community mental health services, the Mental Health Reform group said in its pre-budget submission it was seeking continued funding for the “national stigma/discrimination-reduction campaign”.

Additionally, the group said they were seeking the continued extension of counselling in primary care services, further development of primary care psychology services, the extension of free primary care to all people who require long-term mental health treatment, and the restoration of the back-to-work allowance to support people with mental health disabilities in reaching employment.