Announced by Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, the strategy will support Sharing the Vision – a Mental Health Policy for Everyone 2020-2030.

Overall, Sharing the Vision aims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum, from mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention to acute and specialist mental health service delivery.

Dr Mairéad O Driscoll, Chief Executive at the Health Research Board commented:

“The Health Research Board are experts in developing strategic research programmes that improve health and care. We are delighted to bring that experience to the area of mental health, because we recognise the burden it places on those affected by mental health difficulties, as well as their loved ones.”

“Next year, we will work with the Department of Health and other stakeholders to develop Ireland’s first National Population Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research and Evaluation Strategy, aligned with Sharing the Vision. It will be designed with people at its heart, and will seek to improve promotion, prevention and early intervention; coordination and continuity of care; and social inclusion, among other key policy areas in mental health.”

The HRB is at an advanced stage of establishing an Expert Advisory Group to develop a National Population Mental Health and Mental Health Research and Evaluation Strategy and an associated Implementation Plan. The Group will be made up of key stakeholders from the Department of Health, the HRB and relevant expert organisations and institutions, and will begin their work in early 2023.

The HRB has also funded five research projects under the strategy and information about those projects as well as the overall strategy itself is available from the Department of Health press release.