Updates

The inaugural meeting of the newly formed “Interdepartmental Steering Group for Mental Health” was called by the Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler, in early August. It brought together representatives from 14 government departments, along with the HSE, Mental Health Commission and the Office for Public Works. The group will ensure cross-government collaboration to include mental health considerations across all areas of public policy, including transport, education and employment. Aligning itself to “Sharing the Vision”, Ireland’s national mental health strategy, the group also hopes to shape two forthcoming policy initiatives: the successor to the suicide reduction strategy “Connecting for Life”, as well as the implementation of the mental health promotion plan “Pathways to Wellbeing”.