Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, has today announced the upcoming launch of a €1 million fund to be distributed in partnership with Mental Health Ireland. The purpose of the fund, which will go live on 31 January, is to support the work of a number of smaller local groups who deliver vital mental health services across the country.
Minister Butler commented that “this fund is part of the €10 million, once off, additional allocation for mental health announced on Budget Day to further enhance the experiences of people using mental health services and supports.
“The €1 million fund is a critical part of this overall allocation and will provide once-off grants ranging from €5,000 to €30,000, designed to encourage and support local voluntary groups to respond to the particular mental health needs of their local areas.”
Martin Rogan, CEO of Mental Health Ireland welcomes the opportunity to facilitate the grant application process stating that “Mental Health Ireland has a long-established record of working with communities and a broad range of partners progressing mental health initiatives at a local level.”
Working within clearly defined allocation criteria, we will launch an online application portal on Monday January 31st, and invite applications from eligible agencies to submit proposals which will advance the recommendations of the national mental health policy ‘Sharing the Vision’’ and or meet the objectives of ‘Connecting for life, the suicide reduction strategy".
The portal will include guidance on how to make an application and will clearly set out the eligibility criteria. More information can be found at mentalhealthireland.ie.
Minister Butler concluded that “tailored local supports can have a significant impact on people’s lives by reaching out and responding to local needs. This fund provides a real opportunity to improve mental health and well-being outcomes for all members of our communities”.