The Labour Party has called for a radical overhaul of mental health services in Ireland.
Speaking at the publication of the party's policy document on mental health today, the party's spokeswoman on health Ms Liz McManus said: "Emotional and mental distress can be as debilitating and life threatening as physical distress."
"Despite this, psychiatric services in this country do not receive adequate attention, investment and resources," she said.
Ms Liz McManus, Labour health spokeswoman
Ms McManus said: "This policy document which we are publishing today is entitled 'Changing Our Mindset' because Labour believes that there needs to be a change of mindset when it comes to dealing with mental health issues."
The party called for 10 per cent of the health service budget to be dedicated to mental health services and for the establishment of mental health courts to remove those suffering from mental illness from the justice system and end the use of prisons as a "dumping ground" for the mentally ill.
They also want mental health services to be delivered based on care in the community, early intervention and equality in the delivery of services.
""It is estimated that one quarter of our population will experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime," said Ms McManus.
"And it is clear that if you have the means, you can access the service you need in the private sector, but the lack of services in the public sector must be addressed if we are to bring inequality to the system."
The party's spokesperson on children, Senator Kathleen O'Meara called for a substantial increase in funding and personnel for community social work and psychology services.
"These services need to be strengthened to deal with the majority of children showing emotional or behavioural disturbance and GPs, schools and residential centres should have ready access to these services," she said.
"The specialist mental health team for children and adolescents requiring a specialist service and to provide programmes of early intervention for major mental illness."
The policy document also calls for specialist services to deal with the growing problem of suicide.