Open Letter on Mental Health

Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2010

As you are only too well aware, our already out-dated Mental Health services are in danger of further cuts in the next budget. The facts are that Mental Health has already been cut unfairly and disproportionately. Spending is down 9.2 per cent since 2006, and at 5.3 per cent of the overall health budget is at the lowest level as a proportion of health spending in modern history. More than half of all staff cut from the HSE in 2009 came from the mental health services, despite the fact they only represent 9 per cent of the HSE's workforce.

Until now, there has not been a strong, broad based voice to defend the mental health services and as a result it has always been vulnerable to cuts. There is a danger that Budget 2011 will once again see mental health bearing the brunt of cuts. The mental health sector and its allies need to mobilise immediately.

Amnesty and the Irish Mental Health Coalition are calling on groups to support a call for mental health services to be exempt from cuts in the Budget. We are organising an open letter to be published in the Irish Times on Thursday, 28th October. We will also be organising some public actions in Dublin and other regions.

We recognise that many groups will be making a similar call. However, we think that the historic neglect of our services, along with the current increase in need associated with the recession, makes a strong case for an exemption for mental health. We cannot make the mistake of doing nothing.

We would like your organisation to join us in ensuring that Mental Health spending doesn't get cut in the next budget and that services can continue to develop for the whole community. We have attached the open letter, and would be grateful if you could support this call by agreeing to sign your organisation's name to the letter.

We are also asking organisations to circulate details of our campaign to your members and to participate individually and as an organisation in public demonstrations to be held in Dublin and regionally (as is most convenient).

Barry Johnston
Political Affairs Officer (Mental Health)

Amnesty International Ireland
First Floor
Ballast House
Westmoreland Street
Dublin 2

t: 01 863 8325
e: BJohnston@amnesty.ie
w: www.amnesty.ie/mentalhealth

"every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health"
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 12)