Minister Butler welcomes working group and progress on national mental health reform 

Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, recently outlined continued progress in finalising the new Mental Health Bill, which will replace, reform and overhaul the Mental Health Act 2001.

Commenting that the drafting of the Mental Health Bill remains “a Government priority”, Minister Butler said the Bill is expected to contain in excess of 140 sections.

In a statement to Waterford News & Star, Minister Butler said: “I have requested priority publication for the Mental Health Bill in the upcoming summer legislative session and I look forward to introducing the Bill to the Oireachtas as soon as possible.” 

“The forthcoming new Mental Health Bill is a complex and lengthy piece of legislation,” she said.

“It will introduce, for the first time, a robust system of registration, regulation, and inspection of all mental health services, including all community CAMHS,” she added.

Minister Butler also welcomed the establishment of the Mental Health Commission’s working group to advise on the development of standards for community mental health services. Commenting on its work, Minister Butler said: “The work of this new group, in helping to develop standards for community mental health services, will help set out the best practice that all services should aspire to reach.” 

“It will also complement the legal framework to regulate community mental health services being provided by the forthcoming Mental Health Bill,” she said.

With regard to the new legislation, she added: “In addition to the regulation of all community services, the new Mental Health Bill will update the involuntary admission process, modernise provisions related to consent to treatment, provide enhanced safeguards for people accessing inpatient treatment, and provide a new, discrete part that relates exclusively to the care and treatment of children and young people.” 

“The new Bill will overhaul our mental health legislation making it more person-centred and human rights focused and help to put in place a more robust framework in which our mental health services can be delivered,” she said.

“I look forward to the finalisation and priority publication of the Bill in the upcoming summer session of the Oireachtas and I look forward to working with my colleagues across both Houses to ensure the timely passage of the Bill,” she added.

At present, the Mental Health Commission’s regulatory remit under the 2001 Act encompasses 65 approved centres providing inpatient treatment to persons with a mental illness. Under the proposed new Mental Health Bill, which is expected to be introduced to the Oireachtas during the summer legislative session, that remit is expected to significantly expand to include the regulation of community mental health services, including CAMHS.

It’s anticipated the Mental Health Commission’s working group will provide an opportunity for key stakeholders, including people who have used mental health services and their families, and those experienced in providing community mental health services, to directly inform the work of the group.