An additional €1.9m in funding for women’s mental health services has been provided this year, through the Women’s Health Fund.
The Department of Health said the latest allocation of up to €1.9m from the Women’s Health Fund would see a significant expansion of mental health supports and services for women and girls across Ireland. This investment builds on mental health funding of €1.149 billion in Budget 2022, the largest mental health budget in the history of the state.
“This allocation will increase investment in both community and primary care mental health services for women and girls, with an emphasis on mental health promotion and early intervention. In addition, specialist services for women and girls who have more complex care needs will receive further funding to ensure they are gender and trauma aware. Following consultation with the HSE, the Department will allocate up to €1.9m to accelerate the development of a range of services to support women and girls, including:
- Increasing access to digital mental health services.
- Innovating in perinatal mental health.
- Enhancing specialist eating disorder supports.
- Targeted mental health supports for marginalised groups.
- Targeted mental health supports for women in addiction.
- Responding to at risk girls’ mental health.
- Continuing to listen to the mental health needs of women and girls.”
