Ann Graves
Ceist:572. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health if she will give consideration to providing a number of free sessions with registered therapists or counsellors, to improve mental health. [3225/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 15 January 2026
Ceisteanna (572)
Freagraí scríofa
Enhancement of supports for people experiencing mental health difficulties is a priority for myself as Minister, the Government , and the HSE. This includes the provision of counselling services for people requiring support with their mental health. Last year as Minister I announced €2 million in funding to provide access to a suite of new talk therapies and counselling supports specifically tailored for men. Access to the services began from 1 September 2025. This initiative is embedded within Ireland’s approach to mental health policy implementation. Sharing the Vision – A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, and Connecting for Life, Ireland’s national strategy for suicide prevention, clearly state that talk therapies should be considered a first-line treatment option for most people who experience mental health difficulties. The funding is targeted at assisting with stigma reduction and to actively encourage men who otherwise would not usually avail of counselling to seek help with their mental health, to assist men in accessing mental health services, and to provide much-needed support for men experiencing a mental health crisis.
The supports are available via GPs and are being actively promoted through a national campaign targeting men. The initiative will provide over 15,000 free counselling sessions to men, through accessible supports over the phone and in-person, and the Department will be receiving regular updates on the uptake of the sessions. This recurring funding is allocated from Budget 2025 as part of an integrated series of initiatives to ensure people with mental health difficulties are able to access the appropriate range of supports, from mental health promotion and prevention, through to specialist services and clinical programmes. A summary of counselling provision for men during the period June to October 2025 is provided by the HSE below:
> 2,844 men have been referred to NCS services
> 1372 new male clients have been allocated to a counsellor
> 12,307 counselling sessions have been offered to men
of which 83% were attended.
> The majority of men availed of in person counselling (82%)
> 13% of men availed of counselling by phone, 5% attended online by video.
In addition, 301 clients received support calls from a counsellor while on the waiting list for counselling. They were provided with information about other mental health supports and services they can avail of while waiting for counselling with the NCSMore recently, as Minister I provided funding from Budget 2026 for a new talking therapies fund for providing Community Therapy Services.