On May 18 more than 150 people attended the IMHC’s conference, Mental Health: Human Rights and Legislation – What’s possible in Ireland? It’s aim was to kick-start a debate on how legislation can be used to uphold international human rights standards relating to mental health services and to realise the ambitions of A Vision for Change, the government’s mental health policy.
One of the keynote speakers was the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Anand Grover, who flew in from Mumbai especially to address the conference. He commended the Irish Government on the adoption of A Vision for Change, which he described “as very important policy document radically changing the way mental service is viewed in Ireland”, but stressed the urgent need for law to back up that policy.
The conference also included the perspectives of other legal and human rights experts, academics, service users and providers from Ireland and the UK.* The audience comprised more than 150 people with a wide experience and interest in mental health.
In the final address of the day Minister of State for Disability, Mental Health and Equality John Moloney, TD, confirmed he would be creating a new post within the HSE to lead on the implementation of A Vision for Change. He also gave a personal commitment to the audience that proceeds from the sale of mental health hospitals and lands would be ring fenced for spending on mental health services.
Closing the conference, John Saunders, Chair of the IMHC said: “The current mental health service in Ireland is simply not good enough. The implementation of A Vision for Change is painfully slow.”
*Full list of speakers: Dr Rory O’Donnell, Director, National Economic and Social Council
Anand Grover, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health
Prof Peter Bartlett, University of Nottingham and Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Mental Disability Advocacy Center
Dr Mary Keys, NUI Galway
John Redican, National Executive Officer, National Service Users Executive
Patricia Gilheaney, Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, Mental Health Commission
Camilla Parker, Legal Consultant in Mental Health and Human Rights, UK
Jutta Kirrkamm, Area Coordinator, Irish Advocacy Network
Dr John Tobin, Consultant Psychiatrist, St Bricin’s Military Hospital
Ministerial address: John Moloney, TD, Minister of State for Disability, Mental Health and Equality.
The morning session was opened by Caroline McGrath, Director of the IMHC, and was chaired by Prof Robert Daly, Commissioner at the Irish Human Rights Commission.
The afternoon session was chaired by Bairbre NicAonghusa, Director, Office for Disability and Mental Health, Department of Health and Children, and John Saunders, Chair of the IMHC provided the closing remarks.