UN expert criticises mental health inaction

A senior health expert with the UN has called on the Irish government to give greater priority to mental health.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Anand Grover, said "A Vision for Change" was an excellent document, and was radical in terms of policy, but it had simply not been implemented.

Mr Grover said the allocation of €150 million to implement the "Vision" document over seven to 10 years was inadequate and the designation of seven to 10 years for policy implementation was far too unspecific and loose.

He was speaking at a conference organised by the Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC).

John Saunders, Chair of the IMHC, said the current mental health service in Ireland was simply not good enough.

[Posted: Tue 19/05/2009]