High levels of dissatisfaction with mental health services provided by the HSE among users and their families and carers are revealed in two surveys published on Wednesday. Campaigners say the results show people using mental health services are not routinely getting the services envisaged in the landmark policy A Vision for Change, published 13 years ago. Mental health services have traditionally been the Cinderella of the health services, and improvements have been slow in coming despite ring-fenced budgets in many years, often because of difficulties recruiting staff. The research was conducted by Mental Health Reform, funded by the HSE and will be launched on Wednesday by John Farrelly, chief executive of the Government’s Mental Health Commission. However, six out of 10 said they had been referred to “talking therapy” by community mental health services.

Source: The Irish Times March 13, 2019 00:45 UTC