Department of Health launches Ireland’s first National Mental Health Research Strategy
The Department of Health, in collaboration with the Health Research Board, today launched Ireland’s first National Mental Health Research Strategy. This groundbreaking initiative marks a transformative step in Ireland’s commitment to enhancing mental health services and supports through research and evidence.
The strategy, developed in alignment with Ireland’s national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision – A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, sets a clear direction for mental health research in Ireland. The strategy’s vision is an Ireland with a thriving mental health research system that strengthens our understanding of mental health and positively impacts mental health and wellbeing for all.
It outlines a comprehensive framework designed to foster integration, innovation, and impact, ensuring that mental health research drives evidence-based policy and practice. Key recommendations include:
· Increase and sustain funding across the mental health research system.
· Research priority areas to advance mental health research, aligned with the Sharing the Vision policy.
· Strengthen research infrastructure, research workforce capacity, co-production and lived experience engagement, and collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.
· Maximise the impact of mental health research on the wellbeing of people with mental health difficulties and their families, supporters, and communities.
The implementation of this cross-departmental strategy will be overseen by a dedicated Implementation and Oversight Group, which will be established by the Department of Health. This group will work collaboratively with key stakeholders to ensure that the strategy’s goals and recommended actions are achieved.
Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler, commented on the significance of this strategy:
“The development of this strategy represents a landmark in the implementation of mental health policy in Ireland, and is one of the most significant milestones in linking evidence to policy since I took on the role of Minister for Mental Health and Older People in June 2020. It provides a comprehensive and detailed framework for guiding mental health research in the coming years, which will in turn enable evidence-based implementation of policy. I commend the National Mental Health Research Strategy Expert Group and the Health Research Board for their invaluable expertise and efforts in delivering this excellent piece of work, and I look forward to the tremendous impact it will have on enhancing mental health research and evidence-based policy for years to come.”
Dr Mairéad O’Driscoll, CEO of the Health Research Board, highlighted the Health Research Board’s leadership role in the development of the strategy:
“At the Health Research Board, people are always at the centre of what we do, and this strategy reflects that core value. By focusing on research that directly impacts individuals, families, and communities, we want to ensure that mental health research addresses real-world needs and delivers meaningful outcomes. This strategy represents a significant step forward in creating a research system that prioritises innovation and collaboration while keeping people’s mental health and wellbeing at the heart of its mission.”
Dr Fiona Keogh, Chair of the National Mental Health Research Strategy Expert Group, emphasised the transformative potential of the strategy:
“This strategy represents an unprecedented opportunity to advance mental health research and bring Ireland to the forefront of mental health evidence and innovation. By building a comprehensive and integrated research system, we can address current challenges, anticipate future needs, and positively impact mental health and wellbeing for all. I urge policymakers, funders, researchers, and people with lived experience to come together in support of this strategy to create a healthier, more resilient Ireland.”
This landmark research strategy aims to unite diverse stakeholders across sectors towards a shared vision of wellbeing and good mental health for the whole population.
