Vision for Change. a synopsis. What has been achieved in 2026?

Thought for 1m 16s

Synopsis of “A Vision for Change”

“A Vision for Change: Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy” is a landmark Irish government policy document published in 2006. It outlines a comprehensive, person-centered framework for transforming mental health services in Ireland over a 7-10 year period, shifting from traditional institutional care to community-based, recovery-oriented models. The policy emphasizes promoting positive mental health across society, preventing mental illness where possible, and providing accessible, specialized services for those in need.

Key principles include a biopsychosocial approach (integrating biological, psychological, and social factors), user and family involvement in care, multidisciplinary teams, and equity in service provision. It proposes integrated care pathways, including primary care linkages, specialist teams for specific needs (e.g., child and adolescent, older adults, forensic), and a focus on early intervention, rehabilitation, and social inclusion.

The vision aims for every citizen to have access to high-standard, local mental health supports, fostering resilience and reducing stigma. gov.ie +2 While influential, the policy faced implementation challenges due to economic constraints and resource gaps in its early years. By 2020, it was succeeded by “Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone,” which builds directly on its foundations but adopts a broader, whole-of-society approach with 100 recommendations across promotion, prevention, acute care, and recovery. drugsandalcohol.ie +1 Achievements under the original vision have been carried forward and expanded under this successor policy.

Achievements by 2026.

By February 2026, significant progress has been made in realizing the goals of “A Vision for Change,” though full implementation remains ongoing amid challenges like waiting lists, regional disparities, and funding shortfalls relative to demand (mental health funding stands at about 5.6% of the overall health budget, below the 10% Sláintecare target).

mentalhealthreform.ie The transition to “Sharing the Vision” in 2020 has accelerated reforms, with record investments yielding tangible outcomes in service expansion, infrastructure, and outcomes monitoring.

Budget 2025 allocated €1.5 billion to mental health (a 44% increase since 2020 and 10.7% year-on-year rise), while Budget 2026 added further funding for clinical programs and bed capacity. gov.ie +1 Key achievements, organized thematically below, reflect a shift toward community-focused, integrated care as envisioned in 2006.

Funding and Systemic Reforms

• Record Budget Increases: Cumulative funding rose by €601 million from 2012 to 2024, with €352 million for priority enhancements. By 2026, dedicated mental health research funding has tripled since 2022 to €3 million annually, supporting evidence-based innovations. gov.ie +1
• Legislative Advances: The Mental Health Bill 2024, which reforms the 2001 Act to align with human rights standards (e.g., UNCRPD), passed the Dáil in 2025 and is advancing through the Seanad, expanding oversight roles for the Mental Health Commission and introducing person-centered safeguards. mentalhealthreform.ie +1
• Capital Investments: €31 million invested in 2025 for infrastructure transformation, including a 10-year mental health capital plan. The National Mental Health Capital Planning Group (est. 2024) has mapped facilities and prioritized retrofits for trauma-informed designs. mentalhealthreform.ie +1 A new state-of-the-art National Forensic Mental Health Service opened in Portrane in 2023. drugsandalcohol.ie
• Governance and Monitoring: 20 of “Sharing the Vision’s” 100 recommendations transitioned to business-as-usual by 2025, with an outcomes framework rolled out to track service user experiences and population indicators. HSE regionalization into six Health Regions promotes equity via population-based resourcing. drugsandalcohol.ie +1

Promotion, Prevention, and Community Supports

• National Promotion Plan: “Pathways to Wellbeing,” Ireland’s first cross-government mental health promotion plan (launched December 2024), integrates workplace guidelines, community programs, and targeted interventions for priority groups (e.g., Travellers, migrants, older people). Social prescribing expanded to all counties by 2023, serving 5,589 users and addressing isolation via GP referrals. drugsandalcohol.ie +1
• Digital and Talk Therapies: Online guided CBT programs scaled to benefit up to 10,000 people annually. Counselling in Primary Care enhanced with €2 million in 2025 for targeted access (e.g., for men), alongside e-learning modules and referral tools. drugsandalcohol.ie +1
• School and Youth Initiatives: Two-thirds of schools completed wellbeing self-evaluations by 2025; pilots for primary school counselling ongoing. The HSE’s Child and Youth Mental Health Office (est. 2024) published a three-year action plan in February 2025, including Single Point of Access systems and collaborations with voluntary sectors like Jigsaw. drugsandalcohol.ie +1
• Older Adults and Inclusion: Model of Care for older people’s mental health (launched 2019) implemented with liaison teams in nursing homes. Commission on Care for Older People (est. 2024) delivered its first report in 2025, incorporating mental health indicators; age limits for services under review (from 65 to 70). drugsandalcohol.ie

Specialist and Crisis Services

The following table summarizes expansions in National Clinical Programmes, a core legacy of “A Vision for Change,” with teams operational or in development by 2026 (funded at €5.7 million in 2025):

• Crisis Resolution: New services like Crisis Response Teams and Solace Cafés rolled out (model published 2023); five demonstration sites resourced. Emergency Department audits show 70% compliance with standards; Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses expanded. drugsandalcohol.ie +1 Pilots like Limerick’s CAST team diverted 35 ED visits in H1 2025. mentalhealthreform.ie
• Forensic and Complex Needs: Tiered prison models scoped; Intensive Care Rehabilitation Units developed. National Placement Oversight Team completed over 50 assessments by 2024. drugsandalcohol.ie

Social Inclusion and Lived Experience

• Housing and Employment: Joint protocols for housing transitions disseminated; five additional tenancy support posts funded from 2025. Sustainable funding for 45 Individual Placement Support posts for employment; day centers evaluated. drugsandalcohol.ie
• Peer Involvement: HSE’s Mental Health Engagement and Recovery Plan (2023-2026) embedded lived experience in governance, including a National Volunteer Panel. drugsandalcohol.ie
• Priority Groups: €365,000 for Traveller initiatives; €693,000 for suicide reduction (including LGBTQI+ supports). Cultural competence training and multilingual resources developed. gov.ie +1

Despite these gains, challenges persist: CAMHS waiting lists grew 15.5% to 4,437 children by 2025, with 713 young people waiting over 12 months (45% increase). Prevalence of mental health issues remains high, with 42.5% of adults affected and youth suicide above EU averages.

mentalhealthreform.ie Advocacy groups call for €200 million more in 2026 to close gaps and fully realize the community-based vision.

mentalhealthreform.ie Overall, by 2026, Ireland’s mental health system is more integrated and resourced than in 2006, with “Sharing the Vision’s” 2025-2027 plan targeting full equity and responsiveness.

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