How Ireland can create more responsive care models for mental health

EY survey reveals shifting attitudes and expectations in Ireland’s evolving mental health care landscape.

In brief

• Generational differences shape how people engage with mental health services, from access to treatment preferences.
• While public openness to digital tools is growing, challenges around affordability, wait times, and system navigation persist.
• Findings point to strong public support for continued reform, emphasising person-centred care, digital innovation, timely and equitable access.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every eight people, or 970 million people around the world, are living with a mental health disorder.¹ These disorders typically first emerge in childhood, adolescence or young adulthood – when timely intervention can make the biggest impact. Yet, too often, support comes late or not at all.

The world in which we live today isn’t making things easier. Long-term global shifts – climate change, economic instability, social inequality, and the always-on nature of digital life – are fuelling a steady rise in mental health concerns.² These challenges are not going away, and neither are the demands on mental health services.

There’s also a strong economic case for investing in better mental health care. The World Economic Forum has identified mental illness as the leading cause of lost economic output among non-communicable diseases, while the WHO has estimated that depression and anxiety disorders alone cost the global economy US$1 trillion each year.³ When mental health is neglected, productivity, participation, and quality of life all suffer – for individuals and for society.⁴

Ireland’s mental health care system has long faced a range of interconnected challenges - rising demand for services, lengthy wait times, challenges with recruitment and retention, poor quality data and variable quality of service provision. While these issues are not unique to Ireland, they do exist against the backdrop of several key reports highlighting deficits in service provision, system fragmentation and inadequate care.⁵ ⁶ ⁷

The scale of the challenge that lies ahead to transform our mental healthcare system into one that consistently delivers person-centred, effective, accessible, safe care is sizeable. But there is real potential – if we commit to change. EY Ireland’s Mental Health Survey 2025 gives a snapshot of public attitudes and expectations, and points to opportunities to improve and modernise the system.

Sources of information on mental health support 

The table below shows the various sources people use to access information on mental health support, reinforcing the crucial role that general practitioners (GPs) and other health professionals play in the help-seeking process. 

According to our survey, 75% of respondents aged 60 and older said their healthcare provider - such as a GP, psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker - was extremely or very useful in guiding them on where to seek mental health support. In contrast, this figure dropped to 57% for those aged 45-59 years and further declined to 46% for the 18-44 age group. The findings suggest that the younger generations may be more inclined to seek information from alternative sources.

The role of healthcare providers 

The majority of respondents (86%) reported that they have a regular medical doctor or general practitioner (GP), albeit this varied from 98% of those aged 60 years and older to just 80% of those aged 18-44 years. 

When asked about having discussions on mental health needs and concerns with their doctors, 69% of respondents expressed feeling either very or somewhat comfortable. Among those aged 60 years and older, 56% reported feeling very comfortable having these conversations. In contrast, less than half (44%) of respondents aged 45 to 59 years felt very comfortable, and only one in four of those aged 18 to 44 years described themselves as very comfortable discussing mental health with their doctors. 

This disparity indicates potential generational differences in attitudes towards mental health and perceptions around the stigma associated with mental ill-health, reinforcing the importance of tailored initiatives to promote open dialogue around mental health.  

We asked respondents how easy or difficult they found it to access professional help for their mental health. Results indicate where challenges lie but also point to opportunities for improvement and potential for innovation.

Treatment preferences 

Enhancing access to mental health services is essential, but it is equally important to ensure that these services are of high quality and effective in fostering lasting recovery. Respondents to our survey clearly articulated their treatment preferences.

Interestingly, individuals aged 18 to 44 years demonstrated a stronger inclination towards talk therapy compared to those aged 60 years and older, with preferences of 52% versus 33%, respectively. In contrast, about one-third (36%) of the younger cohort expressed a preference for combination treatment, whereas about two-thirds of the older group favoured this approach. These findings can help to inform the design and delivery of truly person-centred care that takes account of the evidence base as well as individual preference. 

Modality of sessions

Overall, respondents to our survey were almost equally happy to receive mental health support in person (74%) as by other means, i.e., video call, telephone call, text messaging, online messaging or digital apps.