Protest against mental health budget cuts will take place outside the Dáil tomorrow

UPDATE: We have since learned that the protest outside the Dáil tomorrow has been organised by The Union of Students in Ireland and Mental Health Reform with UCD students joining the protest in support.

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A protest will take place outside the Dáil tomorrow in response to the government's decision to cut €12 million from the national mental health budget.

The Union of Students in Ireland, Mental Health Reform and members of the UCD Students Union plan to protest outside the government building. The UCD students' union recently got in touch with us to discuss their fundraising efforts for Youth Suicide Ireland. Spotted on JOE.ie, Cian Byrne and David Burns of the UCD Students' Union, expressed their frustration at the huge withdrawal of funds from the mental health budget.

“We need to look at the situation here: we have one of the highest rates of youth suicide in Europe but depend largely on charities for a response rather than government policy. There’s not even a state authority to coordinate the charities. “We raised €100,000 for Youth Suicide Prevention Ireland, for example. They have got precisely €0 of state aid since 2007 despite a national School Visit programme aimed at early intervention. We’re helping them pilot a new suicide counselling programme for secondary school students. “What could we have done with €12,000,000? It’s no wonder students are angry.”