The Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler T.D., has opened a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to have a Lived Experience Member included on the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) Steering Committee for Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone.
This initiative aims to deepen the input of lived experience in the implementation and oversight of Sharing the Vision, Ireland’s ambitious, multifaceted national mental health policy for the period 2020-2030.
The new member, with lived experience expertise, will work alongside the clinical, social, and community members of the Committee. This appointment is expected to further enhance the voice of service users in the policy implementation process, alongside the crucial role of the Reference Group (of service users, family members and carers).
Expressions of interest will be assessed by a Department of Health selection panel and may be subject to a shortlisting process. The final decision on appointment to the NIMC Steering Committee will be taken by the Minister.
The NIMC, established in December 2020, is collectively responsible for driving and overseeing the long-term implementation of this policy. The NIMC Steering Committee has set up various structures to enhance policy delivery, including the HSE Implementation Group, the Reference Group, and several Specialist Groups focusing on key areas such as Women’s Mental Health, Digital Mental Health, and Youth Mental Health Transitions.