Ireland is set to significantly scale up its mental health research capacity following the announcement of a €3 million investment aimed at deepening understanding of key mental health challenges, including youth wellbeing, adult ADHD, women’s mental health and loneliness among older people.
Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler confirmed the funding, which includes €1 million to establish a new all‑island Collaborative Research Network and a further €2 million allocated by the Health Research Board (HRB) to 10 research projects across universities and health organisations. Dedicated HRB funding for mental health research has tripled since 2022, marking one of the most substantial expansions of research support in the sector to date.
The new Collaborative Research Network—CO‑PRIME, led by Maynooth University in partnership with the University of Galway and the National Suicide Research Foundation—will embed lived experience into research design, strengthen training pathways for emerging researchers and coordinate national and international partnerships. The network will also identify gaps in current evidence and support the translation of research into policy and practice.
The additional €2 million will support projects aligned with the National Mental Health Research Strategy and Sharing the Vision, focusing on real‑world challenges such as reducing youth mental health waiting times, improving ADHD care in primary settings, designing integrated women’s mental health services and addressing loneliness among older people, including those living with HIV.
Minister Butler said the investment represents “a major step forward” in building a more responsive and inclusive mental health system, emphasising the importance of co‑production and evidence‑based policy. Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless welcomed the initiative as a whole‑of‑government commitment to scientific excellence, while HRB CEO Gráinne Gorman highlighted the growing momentum behind collaborative, impact‑driven research.
Mental Health Illness Picture from openclipart.org by j4p4n
