Government told: Don’t Drop the Ball on Mental Health in Budget 2013.

Mental Health Reform's pre-budget campagin. Sign the petition online here. Former Ireland and Munster rugby star Alan Quinlan joined Mental Health Reform’s Director Orla Barry today to urge the Government to continue investing in community mental health services and not to drop the ball on mental health in next year’s Budget. Readers can support the campaign by signing Mental Health Reform’s online petition. Orla Barry commented: “the current Government promised to invest €35 million every year in developing community mental health services, yet little of this money has been spent in 2012. We are asking them to keep their word and invest a full €35 million in 2013.” “The mental health of Ireland’s population is under severe strain and our mental health services are in an important time of transition towards modern, community-based services. Further cuts to the mental health budget risk undermining work already done and safety within our existing services”, Ms. Barry concluded. At the launch, Quinlan called on the public to support the campaign: “I know from my own experience how important it is that people get the help they need, in their local communities. With the right support, people will have the chance to recover their mental health and live their lives to the fullest. We need to show that there is public support out there for this issue. Join the campaign on www.mentalhealthreform.ie".