Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler launches the National Digital Mental Health Strategy

Government Chief Whip and Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD has today launched the Sharing the Vision Digital Mental Health Strategy 2026-2030 at the third annual Digital Mental Health Conference in partnership with University of Limerick. The publication, which is aligned with the Digital for Care 2030 Framework, is the first standalone strategy focused solely on digital mental health, and marks a significant milestone in the modernsation of mental health supports and services across the country.

The Strategy builds on nearly a decade of the Health Service Executive’s work in digital mental health and addresses commitments under Sharing the Vision to enhance digital mental health supports. The Strategy is rooted in the Department of Health’s Digital for Care Framework 2030, and reflects commitments for a modern health service as set out in Sláintecare.

Launching the Strategy, Minister Butler said:

The National Digital Mental Health Strategy was developed to align with the Digital for Care Strategy framework, which sets out a roadmap to digitally transform health services in Ireland and improve access for patients.

Speaking at the event, Minister Butler emphasised the government’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the Strategy through continued investment in digital tools and mental health supports. As part of Budget 2026, Minister Butler secured funding of €1 million implement the Strategy. This will bring investment in digital services such as online cognitive-behavioural therapy and text-based supports to over €7 million.

The aim of the Digital Mental Health Strategy is to provide a clear vision, focus efforts, and guide implementation in digital mental health to 2030, i.e. for the duration of the Sharing the Vision policy. It is based on the premise that digital technology can bring new opportunities and support mental health service improvement across the life span and in all aspects of mental health service provision incorporating mental health promotion, early intervention, primary care, suicide prevention, crisis response and specialist and acute service delivery. The Strategy can be accessed here.

Developed through extensive engagement with service users, clinicians, researchers, community and voluntary organisations, youth representatives and digital experts, the Strategy sets out seven core themes:

1. Access and Equity – ensuring digital mental health supports are inclusive and accessible to underserved and marginalised groups.
2. Communications, Culture and Capability – increasing public trust, awareness and digital literacy, and supporting staff through training and upskilling.
3. Comprehensive and Integrated Digital Offerings – embedding digital supports across the full continuum of mental health care, from promotion to acute services.
4. Collaboration and Co‑Production – ensuring the voices of people with lived and living experience are central to design and delivery.
5. Technology and Infrastructure – aligning with the wider Digital for Care transformation and supporting key enablers such as the Electronic Health Record and Community Care Record.
6. Research, Evaluation and Innovation – developing evidence, data and learning systems to support continuous improvement.
7. Governance – strengthening oversight, standards and regulation to ensure safety, quality and accountability.

It is anticipated that full implementation of the Strategy will:

• Improve mental health outcomes.
• Increase accessibility, availability, reach and scale of cost-effective services and supports.
• Improve service user experience.
• Provide greater choice for service users and more personalised treatment approaches.
• Meet service user expectations through the use of common technologies and devices such as smart phones.
• Allow for greater collaboration between stakeholders.
• Create efficiencies in services that enable clinical staff to focus more on their core role.
• Improve continuity of care and service integration.
• Increase opportunities for innovation.