Call to progress mental health plan

The Government has today been criticised over the delay in implementing changes to mental health services.

The criticism comes on the fourth anniversary of the publication of ‘A Vision for Change’, the Government’s policy document on mental health which proposed a transformation of services away from institutional care to community-based programmes.

Independent statutory body, the Mental Health Commission (MHC), said today that while some progress has been made, reform of services continues to be slow.

The MHC welcomed the recent appointment of an assistant national director for mental health services by the HSE in particular, but said that fundamental changes to mental health services recommended in ‘A Vision for Change’ have yet to be implemented.

“The appointment of an individual within the HSE with specific responsibility for driving change is a very important step, and we hope this will produce results.

However establishing a National Mental Health Services Directorate is necessary to ensuring progress on implementation is made”, said Hugh Kane, chief executive of MHC.

“In addition one of the key principles of ‘A Vision for Change’ is a fundamental move from institutional care to community based care and this in general has not happened," he added.

The MHC was critical of the delay in selling off old institutions and using the proceeds to develop community services.

However, it welcomed the announcement that Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health John Moloney is to outline details of a €43 million capital programme shortly.

The commission published a position paper last November which called for the introduction of a revised plan for reform of services which would include real and detailed targets, timelines, resources and assigned responsibility.

The Government has also come in for criticism for delays in implementing ‘A Vision for Change’ from a number of other organisations.

Earlier this week, Amnesty International said the hope generated by the publication of the policy document in January 2006 had turned to disillusionment.

It also called for a renewed political commitment to mental health from all parties.

Elsewhere, a study published by the National Service Users' Executive published to coincide with the fourth anniversay of the publication of A Vision for Change has found that over 50 per cent of mental health service users are happy with the quality of treatment tey receive.

In addition, most service users say they felt listened to (58 per cent) and were treated with dignity and respect at all times (57 per cent).