P02-166 - Mental health policy and planning in Ireland

Abstract

IntroductionAlthough the world is suffering from an increasing burden of mental disorders, budgets allocated for mental health in the majority of countries make up a relatively small proportion of total health expenditures.ObjectivesTo review the mental health situation in Ireland with regards to mental health Policy and Planning through review of relevant literature.AimTo assess the extent of mental health problems in Ireland and discuss the obstacles and priorities in Mental Health Policy and Planning to achieving good mental health in Ireland.MethodologyTo review available hardcopy and internet literature since WHO 2001 health report regarding current mental health situation, issues that are significant obstacles to implementation of mental health policy and what should be prioritised in order to achieve good mental health in Ireland.ResultsIn Ireland 24-25% of the population develop mental health problems at some point but only 7% of the health budget is allocated to mental health services. Mental health services are not equitable. There is a need for reorganisation of services and transitional funding. There are human resource shortages and lack of transparency and accountability especially around past expenditures.ResultsThe core problem with mental health services in Ireland is an increasingly shrinking budget with poor financial administration consistent with lack of or inadequate implementation of mental health policy. The stumbling block in mental health policy implementation is the lack of a clear authority with defined responsibility for overall mental health policy and budgetary matters.