Parliamentary Forum on Mental Health to take place in Dublin Castle

The Forum will feature a keynote address from former professional rugby player Alan Quinlan and will be moderated by broadcaster and journalist Alison O’Connor.

It will provide an opportunity for TDs and Senators to listen to the views of service users, advocates and professionals with experience of working in mental health services in Ireland. It is an opportunity for engagement and to inform debate, before the return of Dáil Éireann the following day.

The schedule for the Forum is:

1.00pm    Official photograph
1.10pm     Official welcome from the Ceann Comhairle
1.20pm     Keynote address: Alan Quinlan Broadcaster and former professional sportsman
1.35pm     Panel 1 debate and Q&A: ‘A Vision for Change’: How service provision changed following the Vision, what should follow? And how can we refresh the Vision?

Dr. Tony Bates    Founder, Jigsaw Youth Mental Health Service
Dr. Shari McDaid    Director of Mental Health Reform
Ms. Anne O'Connor    National Director, Mental Health, HSE
Dr. Philip Dodd    National Clinical Adviser and Clinical Programme Group Lead for Mental Health

3.00pm     Afternoon coffee
3.20pm    Panel 2 debate and Q&A: How can we promote positive mental health in society and the workplace, what works?

Ms. Cindy O’Connor    Chief Clinical Officer at Pieta House
Mr. Ciaran McLoone    Connect Mental Health
Mr. Donal Scanlon    Mental Health First Aid Ireland
Mr. Richard Butler    Bord Gáis Energy

4.50pm    Ceann Comhairle closing remarks
5.00pm    Event Close

Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD said: “The idea behind the Forum is to inform ourselves as Members, educate each other and to stimulate debate and action on matters of national importance ahead of the new parliamentary term.

This year’s Oireachtas Forum concentrates on something that impacts on us all. It is estimated that at least one in four of us will experience some mental health problems in our lifetime. Mental health problems can range from a low or sad period to a more serious depression or a progressively worse condition.

At next week’s forum, TDs and Senators will listen to the views of service users and those with experience of mental health services in Ireland. The forum will be based on engagement and informing debate, with the emphasis on Members listening to how we, as a society, can support and help those with mental health problems.

Now is an opportune time to examine issues around mental health. The current national mental health policy is A Vision for Change which was published in 2006 and a new policy is now due. So we need to take stock, review A Vision for Change and map out what we need to do and where we need to go. We will also examine how can we promote positive mental health in society and the workplace in particular and ask questions around what works best in this environment.”