Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1961. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the measures that are being developed by his Department to address an increased demand on mental health services in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19432/21]
View answerWhile there is no doubt that Covid-19 has posed significant challenges, including isolation, bereavement, anxiety and loss of income and work for many, we do not yet fully understand the impact of Covid-19 on mental health, the extent of subsequent supports that may be required or how this may affect longer term demand for services. However, a negative mental health outcome for our population from this pandemic is not inevitable if we set about responding to the challenge in a cohesive manner.
The HSE has a range of proactive responses for any rise in mental health service need, including online and other telehealth psychosocial supports. The Department of Health and HSE continue to plan for any surge in demand as it arises.
The HSE Psychosocial Framework, published in January 2021, builds on a range of supports introduced last year in response to Covid-19, including self- help and psychological first aid supports for staff. The Framework acknowledges the impact of the pandemic on mental health in all areas of society and identifies priority groups, including health care workers and people bereaved due to Covid-19.
The report's framework sets out 6 levels of structured psychosocial response, which enable the HSE to effectively integrate the wide range of wellbeing and mental health supports available across the health sector.
The focus of the framework is to provide tailored psychological supports at earlier levels i.e. 1-4, where the aim of services is on preventing psychological impacts from Covid-19 in to potentially developing into more significant mental health problems.
Work on levels 1 to 4, is aimed at planning, funding and delivering services appropriate for different levels of population need, but with the same preventative aim. It is in these areas that the HSE staff have been working hard to augment existing services and introduce new supports, which take into account the health restrictions of Covid-19.
Mental Health services at levels 5 & 6, are targeted at providing appropriate support to people who more significant mental health support needs.
€2.2 million was provided to the HSE in 2020 for a mental health promotion and well-being campaign, through enhanced online supports to improve population health outcomes. Telehealth services are fully established including YourMentalHealth.ie, which offers a wealth of information on mental health supports and coping with difficult situations during Covid-19; the information line 1800 111 888, the crisis textline, 50808 and NGO online supports such as those provided by MyMind, Turn2Me, Jigsaw and many others.
I would also like to draw your attention to the Government's well-being campaigns, including Keep Well to promote physical and mental well in the safest possible ways.
Furthermore, all aspects of mental health services will be improved and developed, through implementation of the national mental health policy Sharing the Vision. Sharing the Vision aims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, during the period 2020-2030.
The NIMC Steering Committee, tasked with overseeing the implementation of Sharing the Vision and chaired by Mr John Saunders was established in December. The work of Steering Committee is progressing.
Mental Health continues to be a priority for me in my role as Minister with responsibility for mental health and for Government as a whole. As part of Budget 2021, I secured an additional €50 million funding for mental health, bringing the annual budget to in excess of €1 billion. Of the additional €50 million, €23 million is allocated to implementation of many of Sharing the Vision’s short-term recommendations and €15m to address the additional challenges posed by Covid-19.
I would like to assure the Deputy that I and the Government remain fully committed to enhancing the provision of mental health services and supports.
