Overview of mental health and mental illness
Introduction
If you have a mental illness, your entitlement to care and treatment is the same as if you are suffering from another illness. You have the same entitlement to general health services and to community care services.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has further information including:
Mental Health Commission
The Mental Health Commission has overall responsibility for:
- The standards and practices of mental health services
- Regulating in-patient mental health services
- Protecting the interests of people who are involuntarily admitted.
The Inspector of Mental Health Services carries out inspections of mental health facilities.
Mental health care in Ireland
Care in the community
The overall aim of mental health services is to ensure that you can get care for mental health issues while continuing in society or within the community.
There are specific mental health professionals who specialise in the provision of mental health services.
In-patient mental health services
You can access in-patient services for mental illness in approved psychiatric centres. These are mainly psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units in general hospitals.
Admission to mental health services and your rights
You can check the rules about admission to psychiatric hospitals which are set out in the Mental Health Act 2001.
You can read about the rights of psychiatric patients.
Further information
The Mental Health Commission provides information for mental health patients and their families.
Find more about urgent help for a mental health issue.