The strategy, launched by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, Minister of Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeill and Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler and Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation,  Kevin Moran, aims to deliver a sustained reduction in suicide and self-harm, ensuring that people have access to timely, compassionate, and effective supports. 

Dr Louise Rooney, Policy & Research Manager, Mental Health Reform said: “Suicide can impact every part of society – affecting families, workplaces, schools, and entire communities. Preventing suicide is a national issue that requires strong leadership, collaboration and collective action. 

Ireland’s new suicide and self-harm reduction strategy recognises the importance of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to address the wide range of factors that influence suicide and self-harm. It reflects a growing understanding that public awareness, early intervention and community supports can save lives.

We welcome the strategy’s focus on addressing the social determinants of suicide and self-harm. There is a significant need for targeted interventions for priority groups, including prisoners, Travellers, people who are homeless, neurodiverse persons and LGBTQIA+ persons. The commitment to develop targeted information and training for these groups is an important step in supporting communities who are most at risk of suicide and self-harm.

Prevention and early intervention are central to reducing suicide and self-harm. The strategy’s emphasis on stigma reduction, school-based education and mental health promotion is particularly welcome. The commitment to coordinated action across government, statutory services and the voluntary and community sector will help to enhance mental health outcomes for communities across the country.

Mental Health Reform has consistently highlighted the need for stronger crisis supports in communities and healthcare settings. We welcome the commitment to expanding crisis supports including Solace Cafes, Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses (SCAN) to support GPs, as well as dedicated mental health nursing teams in emergency departments. These services will support the delivery of more responsive, trauma-informed care for people experiencing crisis.

We look forward to working with the Government, the HSE and our members to support the implementation of this vital strategy over the coming years.”

Notes 

Connecting for Life: Ireland’s Strategy to Reduce Suicide and Self-harm, Connecting for Life: 2026–2035 is available here. 

The new strategy builds on more than a decade of progress under Connecting for Life, Ireland’s suicide reduction policy for 2015 – 2024. It has been informed by an extensive public consultation process, which received almost 2,000 submissions, including contributions from members of the public and organisations through a series of focus groups.

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Helen Gillespie Brown, CEO of Mental Health Reform, said: “This is a landmark moment for mental health in Ireland. The Mental Health Act 2026 marks a major step forward in strengthening the rights of people accessing mental health services.”

The new Act reforms the involuntary admission and detention process in acute mental health settings. It will provide new safeguards for people who are involuntarily admitted and introduce a revised approach to consent to treatment, ensuring that people have more of a say in decisions about their treatment.

Key strengths of the Act include the regulation of CAMHS, community mental health services and residences by the Mental Health Commission. This has the potential to significantly improve oversight and accountability in our mental health system. 

Mental Health Reform also welcomed recent amendments that will strengthen safeguards for people accessing treatment. These include the regulation of pharmacological restraint, a ban on electro-convulsive therapy for children, and stronger recognition of the rights of young people aged 16 and over to make decisions about their treatment. 

Helen Gillespie Brown continued: “For more than a decade, Mental Health Reform has campaigned for the reform of the Mental Health Act, 2001. We have consistently called for modern, person-centred legislation that protects people’s rights and supports their recovery.

Now the law has been made, implementation will be crucial. Substantial investment is needed to ensure nationwide availability of authorised officers, age-appropriate services for children, and sufficient resourcing of the Mental Health Commission.

We would like to congratulate the Minister, the Department of Health, the many government departments and officials and all the stakeholders involved in bringing the Mental Health Bill to fruition over the past decade. The enactment of the legislation will be a crucial step in the delivery of person-centred, integrated, recovery-focused services, as set out in our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision.

We look forward to working with our members, supporters, people with lived experience, statutory bodies, government and Oireachtas members to ensure the Bill delivers a modern, rights-based mental health system in Ireland.”

The post Mental Health Reform welcomes enactment of Mental Health Act appeared first on Mental Health Reform.

Helen Gillespie Brown, CEO of Mental Health Reform, said: “This is the culmination of 10 years of campaigning to deliver new law that strengthens the rights of people accessing mental health services. Mental Health Reform celebrates the immense contribution of our members, colleagues, people with lived experience, their family members, carers and supporters. We campaigned hard, and much was won.

The Bill that finally passed is better than the one that was first published. Mental Health Reform with the support of Oireachtas members, secured crucial amendments that aligned the Bill better with international human rights standards and best practice. 

Key strengths of the Bill include regulation of CAMHS, community mental health services and residences by the Mental Health Commission which potentially substantially improve standards and accountability. The Bill’s guiding principles are also notably more person-centred and rights-based, emphasizing the will and preferences of the individual and embedding a presumption of capacity. 

In addition, a number of recent amendments, secured following sustained advocacy efforts, have further improved the Bill. We particularly welcome the regulation for pharmacological (chemical) restraint, a ban on the use of ECT for children and stronger recognition of the rights of young people aged 16 and over to make treatment decisions. We also welcome amendments strengthening protections in relation to involuntary treatment, requiring that all people admitted to inpatient mental health services are informed of available advocacy supports.

The Bill marks real progress, but more work remains to be done. Mental Health Reform will continue to advocate for stronger protections for people with mental health difficulties. We call for a statutory right to independent advocacy in primary legislation. We do however welcome Minister Mary Butler’s commitment to resource advocacy services and to introduce a right to advocacy for people accessing mental health services through secondary legislation.

We have highlighted the need for an independent complaint’s mechanism. Many people using mental health services do not feel comfortable raising concerns directly with service providers. The independent complaints process must be legally separate from service providers with clear timeframes, investigatory powers and protections. We welcome the Minister’s commitment to reviewing the existing complaints process and improving it.

We call for a law to prevent the admission of children to adult inpatient units. The practice has declined but the absence of legal safeguards creates a risk that admissions could increase in future. 

We congratulate Minister Butler, Oireachtas members, the Department of Health, and all stakeholders involved in bringing this Bill to fruition. Enactment of the Mental Health Bill is a crucial step in the delivery of person-centred, integrated, recovery-focused services, as set out in our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. 

Now the law has been made, the next step is implementation. We look forward to working with our members, supporters, people with lived experience, statutory bodies, government and Oireachtas members to ensure the Bill delivers a modern, rights-based mental health system in Ireland.”

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Mental Health Reform is seeking a suitably qualified consultant to evaluate its social inclusion capacity-building project.

About Mental Health Reform

Mental Health Reform (MHR) is Ireland’s leading national coalition on mental health. Our vision is of an Ireland with accessible, effective and inclusive mental health services and supports.

In line with this vision, we drive the progressive reform of mental health services and supports, through coordination and policy development, research and innovation, accountability and collective advocacy. With over 80 member organisations and thousands of individual supporters, MHR provides a unified voice to Government, its agencies, the Oireachtas and the general public on mental health issues.

Learn more about us here.

Project Background

Between 2024 – 2026, MHR received funding from Community Foundation Ireland to develop a social inclusion capacity-building project called CoLab. The aim of the project is to empower people with psychosocial disabilities and their supporters to advocate for improvements in the mental health system to increase the financial and social inclusion of people with psychosocial disabilities in society.

The UN uses the term psychosocial disability to describe individuals with long-term mental health difficulties combined with barriers in their social environment which together result in disability. Ireland’s mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, recognises that people with psychosocial disabilities are vulnerable to social exclusion. Challenges can include stigma and discrimination, limited access to services, employment and educational barriers and social isolation.

The purpose of the CoLab project is twofold: firstly, to promote social inclusion by empowering people with mental health difficulties to advocate for positive change in the mental health system; and secondly, to work with MHR’s supporting members to amplify their advocacy efforts for greater impact.

Project Scope

The project is structured according to three key objectives:

1. To highlight and address the financial and social inclusion challenges faced by people with psychosocial disabilities through meaningful social engagement, personal development, and active citizenship. This involves the delivery of a capacity-building programme for people with lived experience. The programme will support participants to work together as a group, engage in shared learning and active citizenship in their community, allowing them to influence decisions, voice concerns, and engage with service provision.
2. To provide people with psychosocial disabilities and the organisations that support them with the skills and opportunities to advocate for positive change in the mental health system This involves the delivery of a structured training programme for participants with psychosocial disabilities including training on communications skills for mental health advocacy and campaigning skills. Member organisations will participate in capacity-building sessions with MHR to support the achievement of their policy and advocacy objectives. We will also provide practical opportunities for participants with psychosocial disabilities and our members to get involved in advocacy campaigns, meet with Oireachtas members and raise awareness of mental health issues through media interviews and public speaking engagements.
3. To create long-term improvements in mental health policy, services and law that increase the social and financial inclusion of people with psychosocial disabilities in society. This involves amplifying the voice of people with psychosocial disabilities and our members in the voluntary and community sector. Through strategic advocacy, participants will engage with the Government and contribute to improvements in housing, education, employment, and mental health services for people with psychosocial disabilities which will strengthen social and financial inclusion in the long-term.

Objectives of Consultancy

MHR wishes to engage a consultant to:

• Evaluate the effectiveness, impact, and value for money of MHR’s CoLab project
• Assess the extent to which intended outcomes for participants were achieved
• Analyse participant experiences, with a particular focus on people with lived experience
• Assess whether the project’s approach to creating change worked as intended
• Assess the project’s influence on advocacy capacity, policy engagement, and wider systemic change
• Identify strengths, challenges, and lessons learned in project design and delivery
• Develop actionable recommendations to inform future capacity-building and advocacy work involving people with lived experience and member organisations

Methodology

The proposed methodology should include a combination of desk research, review of project data, questionnaires as well as online interviews with key internal and external stakeholders.

All methods should be accessible and inclusive to ensure meaningful participation of people with lived experience.

Tenderers should outline how confidentiality and respectful engagement with participants will be ensured. Tenderers are also encouraged to propose additional or alternative methods where appropriate and to clearly justify their approach

Consultant Specifications

The person or team undertaking this consultancy should possess the following

• Demonstrate experience in conducting evaluations of similar projects evidenced through previous evaluation reports
• Experience of working with voluntary and community sector organisations
• Knowledge of mental health and disability policy
• Strong research, analytical, writing and communication skills
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills
• Ability to deliver work to agreed timeframes and deadlines

Tenderers must declare any actual or potential conflicts of interest.

Timeframe

The evaluation should commence in June 2026 and be completed in August 2026.

The successful candidate will meet with the MHR staff in June 2026 to establish a specific timetable for the project.

Tender Process

Tendering organisations or individuals must submit a tender document with the following information:

• Profile or CV of the individual/organisation
• Details of relevant experience
• Description of the proposed methodology
• Detailed breakdown of proposed costs and timeline
• Samples of previous work and contact details of two referees

Assessment of Tender

Each tender will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the brief (30%)
• Proven track record and relevant experience, including experience working with voluntary and community sector organisations (25%)
• Proposed methodology and approach (25%)
• Cost (20%)

Tenders will be assessed by an evaluation panel. MHR reserves the right to invite shortlisted candidates to a follow-up discussion or interview.

Further Information

The successful tenderer must hold a valid tax clearance certificate. Evidence of tax clearance must be provided prior to appointment and maintained for the duration of the contract.

Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of the evaluation and submission of a valid invoice.

Proof of appropriate insurance, including public liability insurance, must be included with the tender submission

The successful tenderer will be required to comply with all relevant data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and to ensure confidentially in handling all project related information

Budget Available

The total budget for this work is up to €5,500 (inclusive of all costs)

The Consultant will be responsible for all tax, VAT travel, subsistence, and any other associated expenses.

How to Apply

Tenders should be submitted by email to Wendy Mitchell at info@mentalhealthreform.ie no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, 21^st May 2026.

Any queries or requests for clarification must be submitted by email to the same address no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, 14th May 2026.

Late submissions will not be accepted

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The Mental Health Bill represents the largest overhaul of the State’s mental health laws in decades. It will replace the Mental Health Act, 2001 and introduce a modern legal framework to strengthen the rights of people accessing mental health services.

Helen Gillespie Brown, CEO, Mental Health Reform said: “The Mental Health Bill represents a historic opportunity to transform Ireland’s mental health laws. The completion of Report Stage and Final Stage in the Seanad marks a key milestone in this long-awaited reform.

There has been significant progress since debates began in the Seanad in December. The Government has committed to advancing amendments that will enhance safeguards and supports for people with mental health difficulties. We commend Minister Mary Butler and Senators for their dedicated and focused work, the level of scrutiny undertaken and the constructive engagement with this vital legislation.

We particularly welcome a number of important developments, including the introduction of regulation for pharmacological (chemical) restraint, a ban on the use of ECT for children and stronger recognition of the rights of young people aged 16 and over to make treatment decisions.

We also welcome amendments, requiring that all people admitted to inpatient mental health services are informed of available advocacy supports, and that people who are involuntarily detained receive information about their rights in a form and language they can reasonably understand. This progress reflects sustained advocacy by Mental Health Reform, our members, supporters, people with lived experience and colleagues across the mental health sector.

We have consistently called for a statutory right to independent advocacy to be included in the primary legislation, in line with comparable protections in England, Scotland and Wales. While this is not provided for in the Bill, we welcome the Minister’s commitment to expand advocacy services and to introduce a right to advocacy for people accessing mental health services through secondary legislation.

We have also highlighted the need for an independent complaints mechanism. Many people using mental health services do not feel comfortable raising concerns directly with service providers. The independent complaints process must be legally separate from service providers with clear timeframes, investigatory powers and protections. We welcome the Minister’s commitment to review the existing complaints process to examine how it can be improved.

We have called for a provision in the Bill to prevent the admission of children to adult inpatient units. We recognise that this practice has declined in recent years, yet the absence of clear legal safeguards creates a risk that such admissions could increase in future. It is essential that the rights of children experiencing mental health difficulties are protected in law and that they receive care that is appropriate to their age and developmental needs.

The enactment of the Mental Health Bill will be a crucial step in the delivery of person-centred, joined up, recovery-focused services, as set out in our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. Sustainable, multi-year investment will be critical to its effective implementation across mental health services.

We recognise the rigorous efforts undertaken to reform this legislation and the impact it will have on people. We are committed to continuing our work with our members, supporters, people with lived experience and Oireachtas members to realise a modern, rights-based mental health system in Ireland.”

Additional Information

For more information on the Mental Health Bill, read our Plain English Guide.

We’ve created a summary of the changes made during Seanad Committee Stage, along with the key areas where further progress is essential. Read the Summary Factsheet.

All of our resources are available on our dedicated webpage to Reform the Mental Health Act #ReformMHA.

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The review, commissioned by the Health Service Executive, has examined the care of 374 children who were active on the north Kerry CAMHS team database in November 2022. Of these, 209 cases – 56 per cent – were identified as being at risk of potential harm.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Louise Rooney, Policy & Research Manager at Mental Health Reform, said:

“This report is a stark reflection of the challenges in our mental health system. Every child who uses mental health services has the right to appropriate care and support. Too many children have been denied this right due to severe failures in clinical oversight, governance and accountability. We need strong immediate action to restore trust in our mental health services.

The Maskey report revealed that a lack of clinical governance in South Kerry CAMHS exposed children to the risk of harm. This review confirms that poor clinical governance is a national issue across the mental health system. The overreliance on medication and inappropriate prescribing practices is deeply concerning. The failure to monitor and physically assess children taking psychotropic medication has resulted in unsafe, substandard mental health care.

The report provides further evidence of the under-resourcing and understaffing in our mental health services.  Limited access to holistic therapeutic interventions has significantly compromised outcomes for young people with complex mental health needs. These failings have caused great distress to the children and families involved.

There is a fundamental need for greater accountability across the health service.  Mental Health Reform is calling for the appointment of a National Lead for Mental Health in the HSE to provide strategic oversight and leadership in the improvement of mental health services. While the establishment of the HSE National Youth Mental Health Office is a positive development, meaningful reform requires robust accountability and leadership at the highest level of the HSE.

The findings underscore the need to reform the Mental Health Bill, 2024 to protect the rights of children with mental health difficulties. The legislation must include a statutory right to independent advocacy for all individuals accessing mental health services to ensure that young people can exercise their rights and express their wishes and concerns. As the Bill moves to Report Stage in the Seanad, we urge the Government to strengthen safeguards for children and young people.

Prevention and early intervention are also critical. Investment in these services is key to preventing the development of complex mental health difficulties and reducing the need for costly acute care. The voluntary and community sector is ideally situated to assist in the expansion of mental health services in the community, ensuring access to support at the earliest point possible.

The crisis in CAMHS requires a national coordinated response. We must do all we can to restore trust in our mental health services and ensure that families and children receive the high standard of care they deserve.”

For additional support, please call freephone 1800 700 700.

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Helen Gillespie Brown, CEO, Mental Health Reform commented:

“Over the past decade, Mental Health Reform has played a central role in the reform of the Mental Health Act. The Mental Health Bill represents a landmark effort to modernise Ireland’s mental health legislation in line with human rights principles and international best practice.

We welcome the Government’s commitment to advancing key amendments to the Bill during Committee Stage. This progress reflects the impact of sustained advocacy by Mental Health Reform, its members, and people with lived experience. While progress is welcome, we continue to call for stronger protections and safeguards for those accessing mental health services.

The Mental Health Bill will have a profound impact on people with mental health difficulties, their family members and carers. Every year, over 15,000 people in Ireland are admitted to in-patient mental health services. It is therefore critical that the Bill respects their will and preferences and supports their recovery.

As the Bill moves to Report Stage, we will continue to work with Government representatives and Members of the Opposition to secure meaningful improvements in the legislation.”

Mental Health Reform is calling for the following key amendments in the Mental Health Bill:

Provide a statutory right to advocacy

Minister of State for Mental Health, Mary Butler has made a commitment to looking at introducing a statutory right to advocacy for people accessing mental health services through secondary legislation. Access to an independent advocate ensures people can exercise their rights and express their wishes and concerns. Comparable protections already exist in England, Scotland, and Wales. We urge the Minister to deliver on this commitment to expand independent advocacy services for all people accessing mental health services. This has been consistently identified in our consultations with people with lived experience as a top priority.

Establish an Independent Complaints Mechanism

We recommend that the Mental Health Bill introduces a legal right to an independent complaints process for people accessing mental health services. This is essential to uphold the rights and dignity of people in involuntary detention. The independent complaints process must be legally separate from service providers with defined timeframes for investigating complaints, clear investigatory powers and protections for people making the complaint against retaliation.

Prevent the admission of children to adult units

The Mental Health Bill should prevent the admission of children to adult inpatient units. While this practice has declined in recent years, the absence of clear safeguards in the Bill creates a risk that such admissions could increase in the future. It is vital that the rights of children experiencing mental health difficulties are protected and that they receive care that is appropriate to their age and developmental needs.

Additional Information

Mental Health Reform has developed an information resource outlining areas where the Mental Health Bill could be strengthened, drawing on evidence from international human rights standards and comparative legislative practice. Read the document here.

For more information on the Mental Health Bill, read our Plain English Guide.

We’ve created a summary of the changes made during Seanad Committee Stage, along with the key areas where further progress is essential. Read the Summary Factsheet.

All of our resources are available on our dedicated webpage to Reform the Mental Health Act #ReformMHA.

The post Mental Health Reform calls for stronger safeguards as Mental Health Bill nears final stage appeared first on Mental Health Reform.

Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Mental Health, Mary Butler, has committed to advancing amendments to the Bill that could strengthen critical rights and safeguards for people accessing in-patient mental health services.

Helen Brown, CEO, Mental Health Reform commented: “The Mental Health Bill represents a landmark effort to modernise Ireland’s mental health legislation in line with human rights principles and international best practice. Throughout the legislative process, Mental Health Reform has played a central role in advocating for stronger protections for people experiencing mental health difficulties.

The Government has proposed amendments which represent important progress in the transition towards person-centred, rights-based mental health care. We commend Minister Mary Butler and senators for their thorough engagement with this vital legislation.

We also extend our sincere thanks to our members, supporters, and those with lived experience, whose advocacy and dedication have been instrumental in ensuring a stronger, more inclusive Bill. As the Mental Health Bill moves to report stage, we look forward to continuing our engagement with Oireachtas members to drive positive changes in the legislation.”

Mental Health Reform welcomes the following developments:

1. Provision of information on independent advocacy to involuntarily admitted persons

The Minister has committed to progressing an amendment that would ensure the provision of information on independent advocacy to people who are involuntarily admitted to in-patient mental health facilities. This amendment would require mental health services to inform individuals of the availability of independent advocacy services and how to access them within 24 hours of admission. This marks a major step forward in promoting transparency, upholding rights, and ensuring timely access to support for those subject to involuntary admission.

2. Commitment to a statutory right to advocacy in secondary legislation

The Minister has made a clear commitment to enshrine a statutory right to advocacy for people accessing mental health services through secondary legislation. Access to an independent advocate can be crucial to ensuring a person can exercise their rights and express their wishes and concerns. A dedicated mental health project group will be established this year, alongside further research and stakeholder consultation, to progress work on complaints and advocacy mechanisms.

3. Accessible Information on Rights for Involuntarily Detained Persons

The Minister has accepted an amendment requiring that all information provided to individuals who are involuntarily detained about their rights must be delivered in a form and language that can be reasonably understood by the person. This is a significant amendment that ensures better alignment with international human rights standards that call for accessible, inclusive communication in mental health care settings.

More Information

• The transcripts of debates on the Mental Health Bill during Committee Stage in the Seanad are available to view here
• Committee stage debate on the Mental Health Bill in the Seanad will continue on 28th January at 4.30pm and 29th January at 12.30pm and is available to watch on Oireachtas TV. 

All of our resources are available on our dedicated webpage to Reform the Mental Health Act #ReformMHA.

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Throughout this process, Mental Health Reform has been engaging closely with political representatives to clearly and constructively highlight our concerns and priorities, setting these out in plain and accessible language.

The Government has brought forward more than 300 amendments to the Bill, many of which are technical in nature and aimed at aligning the legislation with existing legal frameworks. Opposition Senators have also played an active and constructive role, submitting a significant number of amendments and contributing substantively to the debate.

As a result of sustained engagement and advocacy by Mental Health Reform and other stakeholders, a number of positive Government amendments have been proposed by the Government at Seanad Committee Stage, demonstrating the value of continued dialogue and scrutiny in strengthening mental health legislation. The following have already been debated: 

1. Dedicated section on Pharmacological Restraint (Chemical Restraint) 
2. Respect for the Rights of Young People Aged 16 and Over to Make Treatment Decisions: the removal of the term “due weight” from Section 10 provides greater clarity on the right of young people aged 16 and over to consent to admission, care, and treatment in a mental health setting on a similar basis as they can for physical health decisions.

Positive Government amendments, that have been a key focus of Mental Health Reform’s advocacy and engagement, to be debated in the upcoming weeks include, 

1. Prohibition on the use of electroconvulsive therapy on children.
2. Enhanced safeguards around involuntary treatment, including:
   • A proposed amendment raising the threshold for involuntary treatment from “likely to benefit” to likely to benefit “materially.” While we maintain that involuntary treatment should only be permitted in urgent cases where delay or absence of intervention could seriously impact a person’s health or safety, this higher threshold represents meaningful progress.
   • A proposed amendment requiring more timely access to decision-supports. A proposed amendment now requires applications to the Circuit Court for decision supports to be made “as soon as practicable,” rather than at any point within a 42-day window. While we continue to advocate for a strict timeframe (within 72 hours) this change is a welcome step in the right direction.
3. Respect for Capacity and Advance Healthcare Directives: We are very pleased to see the proposed removal of Section 51(5), which had allowed a consultant psychiatrist to override the treatment refusal of a person with capacity and/or a valid advance healthcare directive for up to 72 hours pending a High Court decision. While we continue to believe that the High Court should not have the authority to override such decisions, this amendment marks a clear improvement in respecting individual autonomy.
4. Requirement for Regular Capacity Assessments: We welcome the proposed improvements to the regularity and timeliness of capacity assessments. The amendments now require that assessments be carried out “as soon as practicable” and at “not less than once every 14 days” thereafter. While we continue to strongly believe that a capacity assessment should generally take place before any involuntary treatment is administered – and that treatment without such an assessment should only occur in rare and absolute emergency situations – we acknowledge this as a step forward. Given the inherently fluid nature of capacity, we also believe assessments should occur even more frequently, but we again recognise the progress made on this issue.

As the Bill progresses through the Oireachtas, MHR will continue to advocate for the following changes and commend opposition Senators for proposing relevant amendments on our key asks, which include but are not limited to the following:

1. Statutory Right to Independent Advocacy: All mental health service users should have a legal right to independent advocacy, a standard already in place in neighbouring jurisdictions such as England, Scotland, and Wales. This has been consistently identified in our consultations with people with lived experience as a top priority.
2. Establishment of an Independent Complaints Mechanism: A robust, independent pathway for complaints and redress is a critical safeguard for individuals in highly vulnerable situations.
3. Further Safeguards on Involuntary Treatment: We remain concerned about the potential duration during which individuals may be subject to involuntary treatment without access to decision-supports or an independent advocate.
4. Prohibition against Placing Children in Adult Units: We continue to call for an explicit ban on this practice.
5. Prohibition against the Practice of ECT: ECT should only be administered to adults in cases where they have given informed consent.

How can members stay up to date?

All of our resources are available on our dedicated webpage to Reform the Mental Health Act #ReformMHA.

The debate will take place at 5.30pm on Tuesday and 12.30pm on Thursday and be watched on Oireachtas TV.

How can members support our efforts?

Members can support our efforts by contacting their local TDs and Senators to voice concerns about the Mental Health Bill 2024 and to call for amendments that strengthen rights, equality, and access to high-quality mental health care.

A selection of resources that may be of interest is included below.

Resources:

A Plain English Guide to Key Concerns and Recommendations

IHREC: Correspondence to Minister Butler on the Mental Health Bill

Press:

Dr Charles O’Mahony Op-Ed: Mental health law reforms not sufficient to respect human rights

Mental Health Bill must not stifle voices of those it affects most, say mental health reform policy specialists

New Mental Health Bill ‘not meeting bar’ with safeguarding patients

Irish Examiner

Mental Health Reform rebuts psychiatry’s claims that “do not accurately reflect” its position

Plain English Guide to the Mental Health Bill 

Amendments

Bill as Passed

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About the role: 
The Corporate Services Officer provides administrative, operational, and corporate services support across the organisation. The role supports the effective day-to-day functioning of MHR, including facilities, IT and systems coordination, compliance, finance administration, and project coordination. Working closely with the Head of Operations, CEO, and wider team, the post-holder supports strong organisational systems, information flow, and compliance with statutory and funding requirements.

For further information about this role, please see the Job Description.

About Mental Health Reform:
Mental Health Reform (MHR) is the national coalition driving reform of Ireland’s mental health services and supports. Our vision is of an Ireland where everyone can access the support that they need in their community to achieve their best possible mental health. With more than 70 member organisations and thousands of individual supporters, MHR provides a coordinated voice to Government, its agencies, the Oireachtas and the general public on mental health issues.

Application process:

Please email your CV and cover letter to info@mentalhealthreform.ie by 5.00 pm on Friday 30 January 2026. In your cover letter, please clearly explain how you meet the person specification and core responsibilities of the role.

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