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An estimated 50,000 people try to access mental health services, for the first time, through EDs each year

Many EDs can't meet mental health service demand - report

There is an urgent need to improve the provision of acute mental health services at hospital emergency departments, a new report has said.

Health • 17 Apr

Lower standards of compliance are associated with negative experiences for patients

Health minister committed to investment in mental health

The Minister for Health has committed to continuing to invest in the mental health sector to modernise services.

Health • 25 Jun 24

Inspections were carried out at centres in Dublin and Limerick

MHC finds two health centres in breach of conditions

The Mental Health Commission has found two centres in Dublin and Limerick to be in breach of conditions of registration relating to staffing at the time of their inspections.

Health • 22 Nov 22

The MHC has sought an updated action plan from the HSE (stock image)

Investment needed for HSE-run mental health services

Investment into HSE-run inpatient mental health services is required to ensure that people, regardless of their financial means, have access to a similar standard of mental health care, according to a report.

Ireland • 30 Jun 22

Report shows that there were 300 programmes of ECT administered to 239 residents in 2020

Decrease in use of ECT in mental health centres

There was a decrease in the administration of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) in mental health centres in 2020, according to the Mental Health Commission.

Ireland • 21 Dec 21

The Mental Health Commission has released its annual report for 2020

Involuntary mental health detentions by gardaí increase

There was an increase in the number of applications made by gardaí to involuntarily detain people in approved mental health centres last year.

Ireland • 01 Jul 21

Mental Health Commission has published three reports today

Hospital seclusion exceeded legal limit, report finds

A patient was subject to an extended episode of seclusion at a Dublin mental health unit, a report by the Mental Health Commission has found.

Health • 22 Jun 21

The Mental Health Commission published three reports today

Eight high risk non-compliances in mental health units

The Mental Health Commission has identified 16 non-compliances, eight of which were high risk, in three mental health inpatient facilities.

Mental Health Commission • 14 Jun 21

The Inspector of Mental Health Services said more focus should be placed on the design of buildings

Mental health care impacted by 'unsuitable buildings'

Old and unsuitable buildings are impacting the delivery of high-quality mental health care, according to the Mental Health Commission.

Health • 25 Feb 21

The Mental Health Commission paper says the national testing system was 'inconsistent and untimely' between March and July

Concern over virus testing in mental health services

The Mental Health Commission has expressed concern about current testing of staff for Covid-19 across mental health services.

Coronavirus • 24 Sep 20

TDs are listening to concerns about funding and the impact of the pandemic on people using mental health services

Committee told mental health system is 'out of date'

The Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission, John Farrelly, has told the Dáil's Special Committee on the Covid-19 Response that the mental health system in Ireland is not fit for purpose and is out of date.

Ireland • 14 Jul 20

Basic human rights of many residents in mental health settings continues to be overlooked (file image)

Concerns over treatment of mental health service users

Mental health service users are still being treated like "second-class citizens" according to the annual report of the Mental Health Commission.

Health • 02 Jul 20

The report by the Mental Health Commission examined access to acute public mental health beds for adults

Review critical of community mental health services

A review by the Mental Health Commission has concluded that there is "an almost total absence" of community mental health services across the State.

Health • 19 Feb 20

Mental Health Commission has called for a new strategy

Restrictive practices increase in mental health units

A report by the Mental Health Commission has revealed a significant increase in restrictive practices in Irish mental health facilities.

Health • 23 Dec 19

Images appear to show a patient sleeping on the floor of the unit

Patients sleeping on floor in psychiatric unit - PNA

The HSE says "safe levels of nursing" are always adhered to in the psychiatric unit at University Hospital Waterford, but patients are "offered chairs and blankets" when beds are not available because of over-capacity.

Munster • 01 Nov 19

Dr Susan Finnerty says the inaccessibility of rehabilitation services deprives people with enduring mental illness of any prospect of reaching their full potential

Mental health rehab services 'inadequate' - report

The Inspector of Mental Health Services has said it is "quite astounding" that the State has failed to provide adequate rehabilitation services in the sector.

Health • 10 Oct 19

Mental health unit at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum received five high-risk ratings

Eight high-risk ratings for two mental health centres

Two centres that cater for people with mental health difficulties have received eight high-risk ratings following inspections by the Inspector of Mental Health Services.

Ireland • 26 Sep 19

Report is the second in a three-year cycle of inspections

Lack of privacy, dignity in many mental health centres

Almost one fifth of HSE residences for people with enduring mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities "were in such poor condition that they showed disrespect for the dignity of the people living in them", an inspection has found.

Ireland • 25 Jul 19

July's annual inspection of the 44-bed Department of Psychiatry at UHW was unannounced

High risk rating for Waterford mental health facility

The Mental Health Commission has found the inpatient mental health facility at University Hospital Waterford has been critically non-compliant with regulations relating to the maintenance of records and the use of seclusion.

Ireland • 06 Mar 19

The case involves failures at the Department of Psychiatry in St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny

HSE fined over failures at Kilkenny psychiatric unit

A judge has imposed fines totalling €5,200 on the Health Service Executive for failures at the psychiatric unit at St Luke's Hospital.

Health • 25 Feb 19

John Farrelly said Mental Health Commission particularly interested in addressing human rights of patients

Hostels giving mental health support 'need regulation'

The Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission says he wants all hostels and community centres that provide mental health support and services to be regulated.

Ireland • 21 Feb 19

John Farrelly is to become Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission

CEO of Charities Regulator to step down next month

The Chief Executive of the Charities Regulator is to step down in October to take up a new position with the Mental Health Commission.

Charities Regulator • 13 Sep 18

The Mental Health Commission cited a series of shortcomings in the HSE-run services

Mental health watchdog highlights 'unsafe' HSE services

The mental health services' watchdog has warned that State provision in the area will continue to be unsafe and substandard unless the Government and the Health Service Executive begin a process of major change.

Health • 25 Jul 18

The Mental Health Commission has criticised the State's failure to regulate community homes

Vulnerable adults in community homes 'at risk of abuse'

The Mental Health Commission has said the State's failure to regulate community homes for vulnerable adults is putting more than 1,000 residents at risk of abuse and substandard treatment.

Ireland • 20 Apr 18

Non-compliance issues found at nine psychiatric units

The Mental Health Commission has said that none of nine approved centres it inspected around the country were found to be fully compliant with regulations, rules and codes of conduct.

Health • 08 Mar 18