Supporting positive mental health and wellbeing is a priority for me, and the Government. This is particularly important during the current pandemic. Covid-19 has presented significant challenges for people’s mental health, including increased stress, anxiety and fear. While 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 full 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 Government and HSE continue to provide high quality mental health services to children and young people, including enhancing supports in response to the challenges posed by Covid-19. Further developments in child and youth mental health, including improved access and reducing waiting lists, continues in line with our national mental health policy Sharing the Vision and annual HSE National Service Plans.
Budget 2022 provided unprecedented funding of €1.149 billion for HSE Mental Health, an increase of €47 million on 2021. This includes funding for two CAMHS telehubs and €6 million to expand the capacity of community mental health teams, with a particular emphasis on CAMHS. National clinical programmes (including in the area of eating disorders) continue to be invested in, many of which are available to children and young people.
2022 funding includes €10 million for initiatives aimed at increasing mental health supports in response to the pandemic including enhanced signposting and access to existing mental health services and supports, initiatives for children, young people and students, and additional psychosocial responses, recognising that people will require varying levels of support.
A further €10 million is available in once off, additional funding to improve the experiences of individuals, including children and young people accessing specialist mental health services, in addition to community and voluntary mental supports. This includes €1 million for MyMind to deliver approximately 16,500 free of charge talking therapy sessions, to people impacted negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under 18s can access the sessions with parental supervision. €1 million will be distributed by Mental Health Ireland through their extensive network of grassroots mental health organisations, including child and youth groups, in local communities nationwide.
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 increase in demand as it arises.
Significant additional funding has been provided to the HSE throughout the pandemic for mental health promotion and well-being campaigns and 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, and online supports provided to children and young people through the crisis textline, 50808; MyMind; Turn2Me; Jigsaw and many others.
The HSE are developing greater use of digital technology to improve flexibility between blended and traditional care options. This includes for example three new CAMHS tele-hubs nationally.
The HSE Psychosocial Framework, published in January 2021, builds on a range of supports introduced 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.
Since launching in September a €4 million initiative to reduce the number of children and young people under 18 waiting over 12 months to access primary care psychology services has enabled more than 1,600 young people to access treatment than otherwise would have done.
The specialist CAMHS service has continued to operate at over 90% capacity of pre-Covid levels. In CAMHS, there are two types of referrals; an urgent referral and a routine referral. Every effort is made to prioritise urgent referrals so that young people with high risk presentations are seen as soon as possible and this is often within 24 to 48 hours.
There are also the Government's well-being campaigns, including Keep Well to promote physical and mental well in the safest possible ways.
