Seven years after the publication of the mental-health policy A Vision for Change, Mental Health Reform wants the Government to prioritise its implementation.
"The years since the publication of A Vision for Change, in 2006, have seen the proportion of spending on mental-health services decrease from 7.2 per cent to 5.3 per cent of the overall health budget" says Orla Barry, the organisation's director. "Mental-health staffing levels dropped by 12.1 per cent between 2009 and 2012. This overall reduction in staffing levels further hampers efforts to achieve A Vision for Change and denies people the range of supports they need."