Sinn Féin’s Action Plan 2024
In recent years, Ireland's mental health services have been stretched to breaking point, leaving countless individuals and families waiting far too long for the support they urgently need. It’s time for a fresh start. As part of our commitment to delivering real change, Sinn Féin has launched a comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan for 2024. This plan prioritises community-based care, early intervention, and a focus on prevention, ensuring mental health services receive the same attention and funding as physical health.
In this blog, I want to share key elements of our plan and outline how Sinn Féin will transform mental health services to create a fairer, more accessible system for everyone in Ireland.
Key Takeaways
- Sinn Féin is committed to reforming mental health services to ensure fair and accessible care for all.
- The plan includes reforming outdated legislation, expanding universal counselling, and prioritising community-based support.
- A new Child and Youth Mental Health Service will replace CAMHS, extending support up to age 25.
- Investment in early intervention, eating disorder care, and dual diagnosis support to improve outcomes.
- A focus on addressing loneliness and social isolation through targeted community initiatives.
- Expanding 24/7 crisis intervention services, including Crisis Cafés and specialist support in Emergency Departments.
- Establishing an all-island Mother and Baby Perinatal Mental Health Unit.
- Comprehensive workforce planning to increase training places, regulate professions, and retain healthcare talent in Ireland.
Addressing the Crisis in Mental Health Services
The current government’s approach has resulted in crisis management and underfunding, leaving mental health services across Ireland struggling to cope. Under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, waiting lists for services have skyrocketed, with primary care psychology waiting lists doubling since they came into office. Today, over 19,000 children are waiting for access to vital psychological services, and waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) have increased by a staggering 80%.
At Sinn Féin, we believe this is unacceptable. That’s why our plan moves away from short-term crisis management to a proactive, community-based model of care, backed by multi-annual funding and strategic workforce planning. Our vision is clear: mental health care should be based on need, not on where you live or your ability to pay privately.
Key Reforms and Strategic Initiatives
Reforming the Mental Health Act
One of our top priorities is to reform the outdated Mental Health Act (2001) to create modern, rights-based legislation that protects those with mental health difficulties. This long-overdue update will ensure comprehensive, patient-centred care that respects the dignity of all individuals.
Universal Counselling and Local Access
Mental health care should start in our communities. That’s why we are committed to providing universal access to counselling within primary care, making services available to everyone, no matter their background. We will also expand access to integrated support services like Jigsaw, ensuring every individual can find help close to home when they need it most, allowing people to access timely care without the barriers of waiting lists and postcode lotteries.
Supporting Young People’s Mental Health
Our children and young people deserve better. Currently, CAMHS is overstretched, with young people often waiting over a year for an appointment. This delay not only impacts their immediate well-being but also increases the risk of long-term mental health issues.
In response, Sinn Féin is proposing to replace CAMHS with a new Child and Youth Mental Health Service, extending support to those up to age 25. By investing in early intervention and increasing resources, we aim to reduce waiting times, improve outcomes, and provide continuous care as young people transition to adulthood.
Clinical Improvement Programmes for Mental Health
Mental health services should be comprehensive and accessible for all. Yet, in many parts of Ireland, specialised programmes such as those for Eating Disorders, Early Intervention in Psychosis, ADHD, and Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention are either non-existent or severely underfunded.
Sinn Féin’s plan includes:
- Funding 20 additional inpatient beds for eating disorders and expanding community-based services.
- Ensuring the self-harm and suicide reduction programme is available in every Emergency Department.
- Developing additional Early Intervention in Psychosis and ADHD teams across the country.
Combatting Loneliness and Promoting Inclusion
Loneliness and social isolation have reached critical levels, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sinn Féin is committed to developing a national Action Plan to Combat Loneliness to support vulnerable groups, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and marginalised communities. By embedding mental health and well-being into community services, we can create a more inclusive, supportive society.
"No Wrong Door" Policy for Dual Diagnosis
For too long, people with both addiction and mental health issues have fallen through the cracks due to a lack of integrated services. Sinn Féin’s No Wrong Door policy aims to bridge this gap, ensuring that regardless of where someone seeks help, they receive the care they need.
We will also reopen Keltoi, a trauma-informed residential facility closed during the pandemic, to provide comprehensive care for those with dual diagnoses. Everyone deserves a pathway to recovery, free from barriers.
Expanding Crisis Intervention Support
Mental health crises don’t adhere to a 9-to-5 schedule, yet many are forced to seek help in overcrowded A&Es. Sinn Féin will develop a network of 24/7, community-based crisis response teams and establish Crisis Cafés in every city. These safe spaces will provide immediate support, reducing pressure on Emergency Departments and ensuring timely care.
We will also fund Consultant Liaison Psychiatrists and Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses in Emergency Departments to ensure that those in urgent need receive specialist care.
All-Island Perinatal Mental Health Support
In Ireland, there is currently no dedicated Mother and Baby Perinatal Mental Health Unit. This means mothers who need inpatient care are often separated from their newborns. Sinn Féin is committed to changing this by developing an all-island unit at the new National Maternity Hospital, ensuring mothers and babies can remain together while receiving the care they need.
Building a Resilient Workforce
Ambitious plans need a strong workforce to deliver them. Sinn Féin’s multi-annual workforce strategy includes:
- Doubling CAO entry places for health-related courses and reducing fees for graduate medicine.
- Funding trainee counselling and educational psychology positions in line with clinical training.
- Guaranteeing job placements for Irish-trained healthcare professionals to keep talent in the country.
We are also pushing forward with professional regulation through CORU to ensure the highest standards in mental health care.
Conclusion
Ireland’s mental health system is in desperate need of reform, and Sinn Féin is ready to deliver that change. Our Mental Health Action Plan for 2024 is a bold and comprehensive approach to creating a fairer, more inclusive system that prioritises prevention, community support, and long-term sustainability.
Together, we can transform mental health services in Ireland, making sure that no one is left behind. We encourage you to support our plan, reach out to your local representatives, and join us in advocating for a healthier, happier society.
