Labour is committed to building a health service that prioritises robust mental health supports and services, says Councillor Helen Ogbu, Labour Party General Election candidate.
Highlighting the urgency of the issue, Cllr Ogbu points out that over 40% of people in Ireland face mental health challenges at some point in their lives, with the demand for mental health care escalating sharply in recent years. Yet, mental health services remain critically underfunded, receiving less than 6% of the overall health budget.
To tackle these issues, Labour is proposing a series of transformative reforms, including appointing a Minister of State for Mental Health and Wellbeing within the Department of Health and establishing a HSE National Lead for Mental Health and Wellbeing, complemented by Regional Mental Health Leads for each health region. Labour is also advocating for the mental health budget allocation to increase to 10% of the overall health budget.
Cllr Ogbu underscores the importance of early intervention and prevention, calling for greater investment in these services through partnerships with the community and voluntary sector. She advocates for enhanced funding for early intervention programmes and deeper collaboration between statutory services and grassroots organisations, ensuring that those most in need can access timely and effective care.
As a parent and foster parent, Cllr Ogbu has seen first-hand the challenges faced by children in Ireland’s mental health system, particularly when transitioning out of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS ) at age 18. Labour plans to prioritise filling vacant CAMHS posts and to provide independent regulatory oversight of CAMHS through the Mental Health Commission, ensuring accountability and improved outcomes.
Cllr Ogbu strongly believes every child deserves access to timely mental health assessments by trained professionals in safe, supportive environments. She is an outspoken advocate for non-statutory, community-based youth mental health services and is calling for sustainable funding and formal recognition of these essential resources. “Young people must be at the heart of policymaking. Labour will ensure their voices are heard,” she says, adding that Labour would increase grants for school-based mental health supports to meet growing demand.
Cllr Ogbu voiced deep concern over the harrowing reality that suicide remains the leading cause of death among people under 25 in Ireland. Labour will ensure secure and sustainable funding for suicide and self-harm prevention initiatives. Additionally, she has highlighted the severe shortage of mental health professionals in higher education institutions. Labour is committed to achieving the international best practice standard of one counsellor per 1,000 students.
