HSE Library: Mental Health LibGuide: Reports, Policies and Guidelines

Mental Health Reports

Mental Health Commission Publications
Mental Health Commission collection of Reports and strategic plans
Mental Health Commission Annual Report 2023
Mental Health Commission Annual Report 2023 including the report of the Inspector of Mental Health Services
and the report of the Director of the Decision Support Service
HSE Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Reports
Reports from the HSE Mental Health clinical programme and the National Office for Suicide Prevention.
LENUS Irish Health Repository
Irish Health Repository which includes an extensive collection of reports relating to Irish Mental Health.

Mental Health Service Reports, Policies, & Strategy Plans

Sharing the Vision A Mental Health Policy for Everyone Implementation Plan 2022-2024 ‘Sharing the Vision (StV) – A mental health policy for everyone 2020 – 2030’ is Ireland’s whole system policy to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum from promotion of positive mental health to specialist mental health service delivery
Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan 2025 - 2027 This implementation plan provides a roadmap for the next delivery phase of Sharing the Vision – A Mental Health Policy for Everyone 2020 – 2030.
The National Quality Framework Driving Excellence in Mental Health Services 2023 The Mental Health Commission (MHC) has launched a new national quality framework which they believe will help to drive excellence in services over the coming years. In furthering its ambition to help the Irish State improve upon and deliver high-quality mental health services for all persons across the country, the Mental Health Commission (MHC) has launched a new quality framework which they believe will help to drive excellence in services over the coming years.
Mental Health Commission Supporting Change Strategic Plan 2023-2027 Welcome to the Mental Health Commission’s Strategy - “Supporting Change” - for 2023– 2027. This is the seventh Strategy for the Mental Health Commission (MHC) since our establishment in 2002. This Strategy builds on the significant work undertaken by the MHC since the full commencement of our functions in 2006. It charts an ambitious course for the next five years to realise our vision of an Ireland with equity of access to person-centred mental health services and decision support services that deliver high-quality care and support.
A Report on Physical Environments in Mental Health Inpatient Units 2021 An overview report on the physical environments of mental health centres by the Inspector of Mental Health Services, Dr. Susan Finnerty.
Stronger Together: The HSE Mental Health Promotion Plan 2022-2027 Stronger Together is the first mental health promotion plan to be published by the HSE and highlights our organisational commitment to integrating the promotion of mental health and wellbeing across our health services, in collaboration with our external partners. This plan was developed by the Mental Health and Wellbeing Programme within HSE Health and Wellbeing. It was led by Orla Walsh and Anne Sheridan and supported by a National Working Group established to oversee its development.
National Framework for Recovery in Mental Health, 2018-2020 A national framework for mental health service providers to support the delivery of a quality, person-centred service.
National Guideline for Nursing and Midwifery Quality Care-Metrics data Measurement in Mental Health Services, 2018 In 2014, the ONMSD entered into a service level agreement with HEFT to provide access to the TYC system nationally to HSE organisations across the Republic of Ireland. The online web based measurement system TYC HSE is now widely available to all Directors of Nursing/Midwifery who wish to embed Quality Care-Metrics within their local quality governance frameworks.

Older People

Mental Health Services for Older People Report 2020 n this report, Dr Susan Finnerty (Inspector of Mental Health Services) discusses mental health services for older people in Ireland. The report highlights that despite the increasing elderly population, we are currently not providing a nationwide, comprehensive mental health service for them and more work is needed to develop a shared vision and the scope of partnership working needs to be extended. Resources and integration of services that need to be implemented or redistributed to address the increasing demands of an ageing population are also discussed.

Intellectual Disability

Mental Health Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: National Model of Service 2021 People with intellectual disability should access support from mental health services in the same way as the general population, within a framework which is multi-disciplinary and catchment area-based. Team members should have appropriate training and expertise, and teams should be suitably resourced. Recommendations for the mental health of intellectual disability (MHID) model of service follow similar international models. It is imperative that MHID services capture the work they do, and use evidence based practice. Guidance in this model is provided to work towards service provision which is person centred, integrated and with a clear governance structure.

Self Harm and Suicide

Connecting for Life Implementation Plan 2023-2024 Ireland’s national suicide prevention strategy, Connecting for Life (CfL), was launched in June 2015 and the Implementation Plan for 2017–2020 was published in late 2017. In December 2019 the Department of Health supported an extension of CfL for a further five years, with official confirmation being sought from Government later this year. In preparation for this, the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (HSE NOSP) was asked to lead the development of an implementation plan for 2020–2022, inclusive.
Suicide Prevention in the Community Connecting, Communicating, Caring: a practical guide 2023 Suicide Prevention in the Community: A Practical Guide was originally published in 2011. This updated version is designed to guide both established suicide prevention groups and those that are thinking about setting up. The focus is on providing core foundational knowledge for people interested in suicide prevention by sharing good practice, learning from experience about what works well, and making sure that a “do no harm” approach is taken. The information provided is based on current best practice, which continues to grow and develop throughout the world.
Responding to a person in suicidal distress: A guidance document for public-facing staff or volunteers Connecting for Life (CfL), Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015-2020 is a cross-sectoral strategy that sets out a vision of an Ireland where fewer lives are lost through suicide. This guide was developed by the Connecting for Life Policy and Protocols Cross Sectoral Working Group. It aims to support staff and volunteers working in public facing roles to interact with people who present or contact the service in distress or at risk of suicide and self-harm.
National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-related Ideation The Self-Harm and Suicide-related Ideation clinical programme started out with a focus on self-harm in the Emergency Department. The Model of Care identified a pathway of care for people who had self-harmed and for people with suicide-related ideation. Experience of the implementation of the Model of Care has highlighted the fact that selfharm and suicide-related ideation is a constant feature of everyday clinical practice. This programme has affected admissions to approved centres, the work of GPs and the work of CMHTs. Where local area management teams and local clinicians have supported its use, this programme has been highly successful. Many of the evidence-based practices from the programme have spread to other parts of the service.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services Reports

National Policy for Child Safeguarding and Wellbeing within Adult Mental Health Services, 2025 A policy to support clinicians working in Adult Mental Health Services to identify and respond to current and potential child safeguarding concerns (either definite or suspected). The policy will provide for a standard ongoing requirement to consider child safeguarding concerns as part of service user assessment.
Independent Review of the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the State by the Inspector of Mental Health Services Interim Report Independent Review of the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the State by the Inspector of Mental Health Services.
Infant Mental Health: Information for staff working with infants and families in community and voluntary sectors in Cork and Kerry Staff booklet

HRB Psychiatric Admissions and Census Reports

Irish Psychiatric Units and Hospitals Census 2022 infographic and tables
Activities of Irish Psychiatric Units and Hospitals 2022 The 2022 report provides data presented nationally as well as: CHO, county, hospital type, individual psychiatric units/hospitals.

Forensic Mental Health Reports

Access to Mental Health Services for People in the Criminal Justice System Ireland has an increasing number of people in prisons, who have severe mental illness where access to appropriate mental health services is limited and the facilities within prisons are woefully inadequate. Ireland is far behind comparable countries in providing a comprehensive forensic mental health service when a mentally ill person encounters the criminal justice system.

Other Policies and Guidelines

MHC Judgement Support Framework, 2025 The Mental Health Commission (MHC) produces the JSF to assist service providers to prepare for inspection by transparently demonstrating how the Inspector of Mental Health Services (“the Inspector”) uses information, gathered on inspection, to inform judgements about compliance.
Bipolar disorder: assessment and management Clinical guideline [CG185] (2020) This guideline covers recognising, assessing and treating bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) in children, young people and adults. The recommendations apply to bipolar I, bipolar II, mixed affective and rapid cycling disorders.
Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence NICE guideline [NG225] (2022) This guideline covers assessment, management and preventing recurrence for children, young people and adults who have self-harmed. It includes those with a mental health problem, neurodevelopmental disorder or learning disability and applies to all sectors that work with people who have self-harmed
Rehabilitation for adults with complex psychosis NICE guideline [NG181] (2020) https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng181
WHO Guideline on mental health at work (2022) The WHO guidelines on mental health at work provide evidence-based recommendations to promote mental health, prevent mental health conditions, and enable people living with mental health conditions to participate and thrive in work.
How to Put National Standards into Practice - An Implementation Guide for Health, Mental Health and Social Care Services (2024) This guide was developed by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the Mental Health Commission (MHC) to support staff in health, mental health and social care services to implement national standards.