NIMC warns over ‘real risk’ to mental health plan

The Government’s mental health policy Sharing the Vision (StV) is at “risk” if resources are not “protected”, according to the Chairperson of the national implementation and monitoring committee (NIMC).

Ms Catherine Brogan was writing in the most recent progress report on the policy’s implementation, which was published last month. The NIMC is the body responsible for driving and overseeing the implementation of the policy.

In her introduction, Ms Brogan wrote that it was “important to note again” that delivering StV was “dependent on the full resourcing of mental health services”.

She added that the NIMC has consistently emphasised the importance of ringfenced funding for mental health services and prioritising mental health, particularly in the context of HSE regional restructuring.

“There is a real risk to policy implementation if resources allocated to mental health are not protected, and the NIMC will continue to advocate for their prioritisation as a key enabler of policy delivery.”

She noted that the NIMC is monitoring recruitment, retention and workforce planning in mental health services as part of its oversight role and “this remains a standing item in our meeting schedule”.

According to the progress report, 56 of the policy’s recommendations were reported as ‘on track’; 21 had ‘minor delivery issues’; 20 had transitioned to ‘complete’; and four were experiencing ‘major delivery issues’.