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Dublin, August 5, 2025 — Department of Health
The Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler T.D., has announced €2 million in recurring funding under Budget 2025 to expand access to counselling and talk therapy services tailored specifically for men. Launching nationwide in September 2025, the initiative will provide over 15,000 free counselling sessions annually and streamline access via general practitioners, digital platforms, and national outreach campaigns.
🎯 Purpose and Policy Framework
The programme supports implementation of Sharing the Vision and Connecting for Life, Ireland’s national mental health and suicide prevention strategies. These frameworks prioritise talk therapies as first-line interventions for mild to moderate mental health challenges.
The initiative aims to:
- Address high suicide rates among men, who account for 80% of such deaths in Ireland.
- Reduce stigma around help-seeking behaviours.
- Provide mental health supports that reflect the specific preferences of men.
🧠 Service Components
The investment will deliver:
- 15,000+ free counselling sessions per year, both face-to-face and remotely.
- Access through GPs nationwide for direct signposting.
- Promotion via yourmentalhealth.ie, the HSE helpline, and a targeted media campaign.
- Support for young Traveller men, ex-service personnel, and multi-lingual mental health outreach.
🤝 Delivery Partners and Pathways
Key service providers include:
- Connect Counselling, extending their anonymous telephone support line (1800 477 477) to seven days weekly. Over 1,250 eight-session counselling referrals will be funded regardless of medical card status.
- MyMind, facilitating in-person and online therapy across multiple languages with 5,000 free sessions.
- Exchange House to expand support for Traveller youth in Dublin and the mid-West.
- Organisation for Ex-Service Personnel to enhance counselling for former Defence Forces members.
Additional programming includes the Minding Your Wellbeing for Men course—a six-week promotion initiative focusing on self-care, emotional resilience, and social connection.
📊 Evaluation and Stakeholder Engagement
The HSE will work with the Irish College of General Practitioners to promote service uptake. A structured evaluation will assess effectiveness and impact, examining both quantitative outcomes and qualitative user experience.
Minister Butler said:
“We must remove the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and offer supports that are accessible, empathetic, and tailored. Whether it’s through GPs, helplines, or dedicated online services, we are making it easier for men to get help when they need it most.”
This initiative reflects the government approach to expanding equitable access to mental health care and creating pathways that resonate with men across Ireland.
