Welcome to our News Room. This section contains links to our recent press releases and relevant news articles. For press queries please call Orla Barry on 086 8146865.
Mental Health Commission report highlights impending crisis
“Entirely unacceptable and inhumane.” That one, let alone “a number” of mental health facilities are being described in such a manner is a chilling indictment of Ireland’s mental health service. In addition, the Mental Health Commission’s (MHC) annual report, released today (16/06/10), also states there has been no overall discernible improvement in services in 2009, despite pockets of progress across the country. ...
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Mental Health Reform Vital to Combat Economic and Social Difficulty
The Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC) has today stated that mental health reform must be central to Government response to the current economic and social difficulties. Launching their pre-budget submission, ahead of World Mental Health Day (10th October), the IMHC stated that restricting spending on mental health services will not necessarily lead to cost savings.
Chairman of the IMHC, John Saunders stated, “Cutting investment in mental health services is a false economy and will have long term consequences. The 2008 Mental Health Commission report “The Economics of Mental Health Care in Ireland” sets out a compelling economic case for investment, stating that policy makers cannot afford not to invest in mental health. It estimated that the annual overall cost of poor mental health in Ireland is €3 billion, or 2% of GNP. ...
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IMHC applauds plans not to relocate Central Mental Hospital on prison site
2nd July 2009
The Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC) has welcomed the move not to relocate the Central Mental Hospital to Thornton Hall, north county Dublin.
John Saunders, Chair of the IMHC, said: “We applaud the Minister for Disability, Mental Health and Equality, and the Department of Health and Children for this decision....
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IMHC Conference on Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation
More than 150 people attended a conference hosted by the Irish Mental Health Coalition* (IMHC) entitled Mental Health: Human Rights and Legislation - What’s possible in Ireland at the Radisson Royal SAS Hotel in central Dublin on 18 May. The aim of the conference was to kick-start a discussion on how legislation could be used to uphold international human rights standards relating to mental health services and to realise the ambitions of A Vision for Change, the Government’s mental health policy....
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World’s top health expert calls on the Irish Government to prioritise mental health
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Anand Grover, has expressed concern over the lack of legislation to implement government policy.
Speaking at the Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC) conference today (18/05/09) Mr Grover said: “A Vision for Change is an excellent document, really radical in terms of policy, but unfortunately it simply has not been implemented.”
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Some of the most vulnerable people in Irish society are in facilities that are intolerable
18th May 2009
'Forgotten and neglected", living "cold empty, colourless lives", in "19th century buildings unfit for purpose".
Last week's annual report for 2008 by the inspector of mental health services into national standards makes for disturbing reading. It was highly critical, listing a string of serious failures at a number of hospitals and mental health facilities around Ireland.
Some of the most vulnerable people in Irish society are living in facilities that, put simply, are intolerable. Basic levels of privacy and dignity are eroded.
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Failing mental health in-patient facilities must close on foot of damning report - IMHC
14th May 2009
The Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC) has expressed alarm at the sustained lack of improvement in mental health services, after the mental Health Commission today (14/05/09) released another highly critical annual report.
The Commission’s report listed a string of failings at a number of in—patient facilities. The conditions highlighted, including high use of medication, the ‘neo-warehousing’ of long-stay patients in smaller institutions, lack of privacy, and inadequate physical environments, breach
the most basic human rights of people using these services. The IMHC calls for the closure of failing in-patient facilities.
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Diary Notice - Mental Health: Human Rights and Legislation – What’s Possible in Ireland?
Diary Notice - On the 18th of May the Irish Mental Health Coalition hosts an exciting conference that will explore how legislation can be used to ensure quality in Ireland’s mental health services while upholding international human rights standards and realising the ambitions of A Vision for Change, the Government’s mental health policy.
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Urgent investigation of injuries in Clonmel needed
Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC) today (3/4/09) called on the Government to establish urgently an independent investigation into the individual cases of patients who experienced fracture injuries in uncertain circumstances in St Luke's Hospital, Clonmel and St Michael’s Unit, South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel. This call comes in the wake of the publication of a report by the Mental Health Commission into care and treatment practices in these mental health in-patient facilities. “The rights and redress of the individuals who suffered these injurues must be the highest priority as this shocking story unfolds,” said Caroline McGrath, Director of the IMHC.
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Government must act as recession drives demand for mental health services
1st April 2009
The decision by the British Government to invest £175 million sterling into
mental health services to help them cope with increased demand caused by
the recession should be an example followed by the Irish Government, the
Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC) said today. Ahead of next week’s
budget the IMHC called on the Government to invest in mental health
services as part of its response to the economic and social difficulties
facing the country....
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Irish Mental Health Coaliiton Welcomes the Government Commitment to A Vision for Change
26th January 2009
The Irish Mental Health Coaliiton welcomes the government commitment to A Vision for Change, but seeks clarification on the sale of lands and issue of funding. The Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC) has today (Monday 26th) welcomed the Governments commitment to a Vision for Change. In its response to Minister John Moloney’s announcement, the IMHC acknowledged the commitment to reinvest funds from the sale of psychiatric hospitals into mental health, but called on the Minister to provide additional details. ...
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Irish Mental Health Coalition Want Questions Answered On Mental Health Service reform
22nd January 2009
Report shows slow implementation of mental health reform despite increasing demand for services
The Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC) has today published a new report highlighting the stagnant implementation of mental health service reform and the need for action in times of increasing cutbacks. The report, “Late for a Very Important Date”, marks the third anniversary of the publication of A Vision for Change, and calls on Government to answer key questions relating to slow progress in the development of services...
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Transparency & Accountability in Budget 2009: A Call to Government on World Mental Health Day
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Previous Press Releases from the IMHC
July 2008
Government urged to review decision to relocate the Central Mental Hospital
July 2008
Director of Mental Health must be part of HSE reform
May 2008
Irish Mental Health Coalition calls for end to industrial action by nursing unions
December 2007
Where is the money? – Irish Mental Health Coalition alarmed at budget 2008
... July 2008
Government urged to review decision to relocate the Central Mental Hospital
July 2008
Director of Mental Health must be part of HSE reform
May 2008
Irish Mental Health Coalition calls for end to industrial action by nursing unions
December 2007
Where is the money? – Irish Mental Health Coalition alarmed at budget 2008
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IRISH MENTAL HEALTH COALITION ELECTION 2007 ISSUES
Ask your proposed candidate the questions that are important to YOU !
1. Prioritisation of Mental Health Expenditure
2. Full Implementation of a ‘Vision for Change’
3. Equitable Distribution of Financial Resources
4. Relocation of the Central Mental Hospital
5. Adequate Resourcing of Suicide Prevention Strategies
6. Restructuring of Mental Health Services...
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MENTAL HEALTH SET TO BECOME A BURNING ISSUE FOR NEXT GOVERNMENT
Political Parties set out their stall at hustings
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Dire need for child and adolescent mental health services
Responding to new figures showing that almost 300 children and adolescents were admitted or detained in adult psychiatric hospitals last year, Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the figures indicated “the failure of successive governments to put in place proper mental health services for young people”....
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The Irish Mental Health Coalition welcomes the joint publication of the Fine Gael and Labour parties. We note that this is the first public policy announcement from the Fine Gael and Labour alliance...
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IMHC launched to put mental health on the political agenda - Friday 29th June 2006.
The Irish Mental Health Coalition was launched today at Buswells Hotel in Dublin. For the first time, Irish organisations are formally uniting with the aim of harnessing the support of all stakeholders to campaign for improvement in mental health services. The coalition was established by Amnesty International (Irish Section), Bodywhys - The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland, GROW in Ireland, the Irish Advocacy Network and Schizophrenia Ireland...
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