Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 1

Written Answers. - Mental Health Services.

Billy Timmins

Question:

131 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will take action on key recommendations of the World Health Organisation's 2001 annual report, Mental Health: New Understanding, New Hope; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3448/03]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

363 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will take action on key recommendations of the World Health Organisation's 2001 annual report, Mental Health:New Understanding, New Hope; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3480/03]

Liz McManus

Question:

399 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he has taken to implement the recommendations of the World Health Organisation's 2001 annual report, which states that reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness requires a good mental health service, and a well thought-out public education and awareness campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3590/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O'Malley):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 363 and 399 together.

The World Health Organisation's 2001 Report, Mental Health: New Understanding, New Hope was aimed at raising public and professional awareness worldwide of the burden of mental illness and its costs in human, social and economic terms. It is a comprehensive review of all aspects of mental health, from prevalence and treatment to service provision and planning. It concludes with a set of ten broad recommendations for action.

Steady progress has been made in this country over recent years in many of the areas covered by the World Health Organisation's recommendations, for example in the shift from institutional to community-based care, and in the reform of mental health legislation. The Government is committed to continuing this progress and to increasing its efforts in the area of mental health, as resources become available.

The health strategy, – Quality and Fairness, contains a commitment to the development of a new national policy framework for mental health, work on which is expected to begin later this year. The recommendations of the World Health Organisation will be among the matters to be considered in the formulation of the new framework.

Question No. 132 answered with Question No. 108.