Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
104 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the call made by Mental Health Ireland for the establishment of a national strategy on mental health; if it is intended to respond to this call; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26325/04]
View answerThe National Health Promotion Strategy 2000-2005 recognises that mental health is equally important as physical health to the overall well being of a person and poor mental health has a significant impact on a person's quality of life and their contribution to society. For that reason mental health is a resource that needs to be protected and promoted.
An expert group on mental health policy has recently been set up to develop a national policy framework for mental health. On foot of submissions made to the expert group, a sub-group on mental health promotion and the prevention of mental ill-health has been established to examine the issues around the promotion of positive mental health. It is envisaged that the group will make recommendations, based on best practice and current policy, for the inclusion for mental health promotion and prevention of mental ill health in the new national policy framework, as well as identifying and recommending priority areas for action. The expert group is due to report in 2005.
