This plan is a cross-government plan which aims to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing at population level. The plan is Ireland’s first cross-government mental health promotion plan and is a culmination of both policy commitments made by Government and recommendations from international partners. By creating this plan, the Government of Ireland is signalling a commitment to improving the mental health and wellbeing of every person and reducing the risk of mental health difficulties across the life course.

P.7 Priority Groups - The idea of wellbeing and the basis of promoting positive mental health is universal and shared; everyone should aspire to and be supported in pursuing positive mental health for wellbeing. However, this plan recognises that certain members of our society are at higher risk of experiencing mental ill‑health due to their specific circumstances. Some people within these groups may require more tailored supports and interventions to enable them to improve their mental health. ‘Priority groups’ refers to individuals or groups who may have a higher risk of experiencing mental health difficulties due to their situational, cultural, environmental or familial experiences (as opposed to any inherent weakness). This is an umbrella term, under which different groups of people may be included as new priority groups emerge.

Such groups may (but do not necessarily) include people living in poverty, people with chronic health conditions, children exposed to abuse and neglect, people with addiction issues, people experiencing homelessness, ethnic groups, Irish Travellers and Roma, older people, people experiencing discrimination and human rights violations, LGBTIQ+ people, prisoners, refugees and migrants, and people exposed to conflict, natural disasters or other humanitarian emergencies.

P.16 Objective 2: Counter the negative impact of discrimination, racism, and social exclusion on the population’s
mental health and wellbeing through across relevant Government Departments.
Action 3. Strengthen the integration of mental health promotion into the implementation of plans, policies, resources, and activities that focus on the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs.