Mental health charity Turn2Me calls for more supports in budget

Mental health charity Turn2Me is calling on the Government to increase funding for mental health services in the 2026 budget.

The group explained that according to the 2024 Mental State of the World Report, people in Ireland reported the highest level of difficulty accessing mental health supports of the 27 EU member states, with 44% of Irish respondents reporting difficulty in accessing supports compared to an EU average of 25%.

According to 2022 research from Maynooth University, NCI, and Trinity College, over 40% of Irish adults have a mental health disorder and one in 10 have attempted suicide. 

The 2021 Cost of Disability report found the average additional annual cost of having a mental health difficulty was €13,251, and based on the consumer price index inflation calculator, this additional annual cost would be €15,530.17 today.

Fiona O’Malley, CEO of Turn2Me, said: “Mental health is every bit as important as physical health, yet Ireland continues to lag behind international standards in how we fund and prioritise it. In Budget 2026, we are calling on Government to allocate increased resources so that no one is left waiting weeks or months for support. Minister Mary Butler has done wonderful work championing mental health services, but we would like to see increased investment ... this will not only save lives but also reduce long-term pressures on the wider health system.”

Priority areas

The charity emphasised several priority areas for investment, such as expanding free and accessible services with funding to ensure every citizen can access counselling, crisis supports, and peer groups without prohibitive waiting lists or costs. It has also called for investment in online supports, which can reach people in rural areas or those unable to attend in person, as well as campaigns to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking behaviour.

Targeted supports for young people, particularly in schools and third-level institutions, to prevent escalation of mental health difficulties is also on its list, as is recruitment and retention of psychotherapists, psychologists, and support staff to reduce pressure on frontline services.

Ms O’Malley said: “With the right funding in Budget 2026, we can ensure that services are there when people need them, that no one suffers in silence, and that mental health finally achieves parity with physical health.”