THE STATE’S mental health watchdog has warned that there needs to be a “change of attitude” among health authorities if services for people with mental health problems are to improve.
In a position paper, the Mental Health Commission says there are significant gaps in the Health Service Executive's implementation plan for Vision for Change, the Government's blueprint for developing mental health services.
It says a fresh plan is needed without delay which would include real and detailed targets, timelines, resources and assigned responsibility.
The commission's paper says there "was much optimism regarding the potential to bring about profound change" when Vision for Change was launched almost four years ago.
However, it says this optimism has been replaced by disappointment at the absence of progress in implementing the policy and the lack of any significant change in the mental health services received by most service users.
The commission’s paper highlights possible ways forward for the HSE to consider, including:
- Identifying specific outcomes;
- A map of the steps needed to achieve these outcomes, with real targets, timelines, resources;
- An outline of the benefits arising from the implementation, including the monitoring of the outcomes as they are being achieved.
The chairman of the Mental Health Commission, Dr Edward O’Dea, said: “These are straightforward matters of process. However, if they are to happen there must be a change of attitude.”
He added that there was a real opportunity to show public policy-making and change management at its best.
The commission says there have been positive signs, such as the appointment of an assistant national director for mental health services by the HSE.
It has also welcomed a commitment from Minister of State with responsibility for mental health John Moloney to ring-fence money arising from the sale of psychiatric hospitals for investment in the service.
Vision for Changepledged to develop community-based multidisciplinary mental health teams, to place more emphasis on recovery from mental health problems, and to build stronger links between GPs and specialist mental health services.
It also envisaged closing old mental hospitals and investing money raised from their sale in new services.
