Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler welcomes Ukrainian delegation of mental health professionals to Ireland
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 16 December 2025
- Last updated on: 16 December 2025
Today, Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health and Government Chief Whip Mary Butler TD, will welcome a delegation of Ukrainian mental health professionals to the Department of Health as part of a study tour to Ireland. The visit aims to support the development of mental health policy in Ukraine and enhance mental health services for veterans of war in Ukraine.
Minister Butler, joined by senior Department of Health officials, will host a meeting featuring presentations on Ireland’s national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone (2020–2030), and the forthcoming suicide reduction strategy, which will succeed Connecting for Life (2015–2024). The session will conclude with an open discussion and an opportunity for questions and answers.
The visit is being organised by ‘Global In Mind’, an international not-for-profit organisation that promotes innovation, collaboration, and capacity-building in mental health. The objective of the study tour is to provide Ukrainian mental health professionals with an in-depth understanding of Ireland’s approaches to:
- Mental health services for veterans and families of veterans, and individuals affected by conflict
- Trauma care
- Grief related interventions
- Suicide prevention, and
- Addiction care
The study tour will assist Ukrainian officials in the development of the Returning Programme, which aims to create a nationwide network of mental health centres for military personnel, veterans and their families in Ukraine.
Speaking ahead of the event, Minister Butler said:
“I am very pleased to welcome the Ukrainian delegation and our partners from ‘Global In Mind’, who kindly facilitated this study tour. This visit offers a valuable opportunity for Ireland to share our experience and perspectives on mental health with our Ukrainian colleagues.
"The tour strengthens the growing connection between Ukraine and Ireland in this area, building on my recent engagement with the First Lady of Ukraine during the official visit to Ireland. I was honoured to meet Olena Zelenska at the Jigsaw service in Summerhill, Dublin, where we discussed her foundation’s work to support youth mental health in Ukraine and highlighted the impact of the early intervention services offered by Jigsaw across Ireland.”
Notes
Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone (2020-2030) is Ireland’s national mental health policy.
More information on Ireland’s forthcoming suicide reduction strategy is available here.
About Global In Mind
Global In Mind is an international non-profit organisation based in Luxembourg that promotes innovation, collaboration, and capacity-building in mental health through research, education, and policy development. Officially registered as an ASBL (Association Sans But Lucratif), Global In Mind works to advance a comprehensive and culturally sensitive approach to mental health across Europe and globally. The organization supports governments, institutions, and communities by offering training, conducting applied research, and advocating for the inclusion of people with lived experience in service design and delivery. With a strong emphasis on co-production and equity, Global In Mind fosters cross-sector partnerships to address mental health challenges in diverse settings, including post-conflict recovery, migration, and youth wellbeing. Its initiatives reflect a commitment to evidence-informed practice, inclusive governance, and sustainable mental health reform.