General

Mental Health Ireland is a national voluntary organisation which was established in 1966 as the Mental Health Association of Ireland. It is a company limited by guarantee with a voluntary Board of Directors representative of local Mental Health Associations and people with expertise in relevant areas.

There are 104 local Mental Health Associations currently affiliated to Mental Health Ireland. While they are autonomous, they share the mission of MHI and participate in projects organised at national level. Local MHAs are active in assisting to meet the mental health needs of the population of their own areas. MHI is affiliated to the World Federation for Mental Health and to Mental Health Europe.

The activities of Mental Health Ireland include:

• Supporting local Mental Health Associations in their work by providing information and training and through a network of Development Officers working around the country. 

• Actively Campaigning and Advocating to improve national mental health policy and service provision.
  
  

• Providing an Information Service on issues relating to mental health and mental illness through information fact-sheets, this website and directly by telephone, post and email.
  
  

• Undertaking Research on mental health topics, such as the national survey on stress and the national survey on public attitudes to mental illness.
  
  

• Organising Conferences, Courses, Workshops and Seminars on a wide variety of issues relating to mental health. MHI also promotes and co-ordinates activities to celebrate World Mental Health Day on the 10th October each year.
  
  

• Developing Mental Health Promotion Programmes, including:
  
  

  • The National Public Speaking Project for senior students in post-primary schools and colleges which promotes an awareness of the importance of positive mental health, while developing public speaking skills.
    
    

  • Mental Health Matters, a mental health resource pack for 14-18 year olds which addresses the issue of mental health in a realistic, relevant and age appropriate manner.
    
    

Chairman: Mr John McGetrick
Vice Chairman: Mr Michael Hughes
Honorary Secretary: Mr Brian Glanville
Honorary Treasurer: Dr John Connolly

Members:
Mr Joe Casey
Ms Maria Molloy
Mr P.J. Murphy
Mr Denis O’Dwyer
Mrs Fidelma Ryan
Mr Brendan Madden
Dr Timothy Lynch

Mental Health Ireland aims to promote positive mental health and to actively support persons with a mental illness, their families and carers by identifying their needs and advocating their rights.

The final touches are being put to the MHI Strategic Plan 2008-2012. This five year plan proposes to focus with greater clarity on how to succeed in our mission to improve the wellbeing of persons at an individual and group level over the next five years.

Other areas to receive priority attention include:

1. Volunteer recruitment and retention
   
2. Continued development of social housing throughout the country
   
3. Increase awareness / information programmes on mental health issues
   
4. Active engagement with research and other mental health research agencies
   
5. Greater service user involvement at both local and national level
   
6. Pursue appropriate funding for Training and Development programme for volunteers and carers and also to facilitate operation of the Volunteer, Advocacy and Support programme in other parts of the country following the successful piloting in Waterford Institute of Technology
   
7. Increased partnerships with HSE and other service providers

Mental Health Ireland has at present staffing level of 8 employees at central office as well as 11 Development Officers based in Health Board regions around the country who support the work of local Associations.

Chief Executive Officer: Brian Howard

Deputy Chief Executive Officer: Ted Tierney

Secretary to the Board: Barbara Davis

Executive Officer: Therese Coveney

Acting Information Officer: Camille Afchain

Administrative Officer: Elaine Corcoran

Administrative Officer: Lisa Manley

Accounts officer: Paula Moore