Minister Butler outlines Government ambition for Digital Mental Health at International roundtable event
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 12 May 2025
- Last updated on: 14 May 2025
Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD, hosted a high-level International roundtable event on digital mental health in Dublin city centre on Monday 12 May 2025.
Organised in collaboration between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE), and the eMental Health International Collaborative, the purpose of the event was to engage national and international stakeholders about how best to use digital technology and AI to augment the delivery of Mental Health care services in Ireland.
Speaking at the event, Minister Butler emphasised the Government’s commitment to supporting innovation, noting the transformative impact it can have on services by creating opportunities to access cutting-edge technology and therapies.
With a focus on a) digital mental health strategy and implementation and b) the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in mental health, the objectives of the roundtable were:
- To develop a shared understanding and awareness of digital health opportunities for Mental Health care,
- To ensure a collective commitment to achieving successful outcomes of deployment of digital in Mental Health care,
- Examine emerging international best practices in the digital Mental Health domain and examples of implementation by the Irish Government, and service providers,
- Examine the role of digital technologies in improving access, easing workforce constraints, and providing early intervention,
- Explore potential opportunities for international collaboration to further Ireland’s aims, and
- Provide an opportunity for Irish stakeholders to share their existing and emerging work in digital mental health.
Speaking at the event, Minister Butler said:
“There's strong evidence that technology can positively engage people with mental health issues. Given these benefits, it's important for policymakers and service providers to consider how best to use digital mental health solutions to improve outcomes.
“It's crucial that digital supports don't replace face-to-face interactions, which are vital for providing connection and compassion to those experiencing mental health issues.
“As we work to improve access to services, it's essential that digital mental health supports are used appropriately and complement traditional delivery models.
“Just as we ensure that evaluation is part of good service and policy implementation to learn from our experiences, we must do the same with our digital mental health services. This way, we can balance the opportunities technology brings with the associated risks.”
Minister Butler concluded:
“In recent years, Ireland has developed and implemented mental health policies that strongly support mental health promotion and recognise digital supports as a key medium. It's clear that digital health technologies have the potential to transform mental healthcare in terms of accessibility, equity, quality, and choice.”
A wide range of stakeholders took part in the roundtable event, including national and international experts in mental health policy and service delivery, as well those with lived and living experience expertise, academics and private sector representatives.