Shoppers of policy and people navigating care are noticing a fresh push: the Government is adding €3 million to mental health supports for Budget 2026, expanding counselling access for LGBTQ+ people, young people and men, and promising an extra 9,000 sessions where early help can make a real difference.

Essential Takeaways

  • Additional funding: €3 million added for Budget 2026, on top of €1 million recurring previously secured.
  • More sessions: The funding is expected to deliver roughly 9,000 extra counselling sessions, bolstering early-intervention care.
  • New partnership: HSE will partner with Community Therapy Ireland (CTI), a network of 29 counselling and psychotherapy providers, to expand reach.
  • Targeted work: Programmes will focus on LGBTQ+ people, young people and men, including a Men Connect pilot through Family Resource Centres.
  • Proven demand: Earlier rounds of funding supported 39,000 counselling hours and more than 5,200 men have already used the free men’s counselling service.

What the extra cash means , more sessions, more targeted support

The headline figure is tidy: an extra €3 million for mental health in Budget 2026, adding to money already ring-fenced for counselling. That’s important because funding translates directly to appointment slots, outreach work and staff hours , the practical stuff people feel. According to coverage in national outlets, this round is designed not just to top up general services but to target groups who face particular barriers to care, like LGBTQ+ people and young people.

The new cash will be channelled through a formal partnership between the HSE and Community Therapy Ireland, a national association of counsellors and psychotherapists. That move aims to speed access and make services more local and flexible, rather than relying only on large, centralised clinics.

Why men’s programmes are getting special attention

Men account for a large majority of suicide deaths in Ireland, so expanding services aimed at men has been framed as a public-health priority. The men’s free counselling programme, launched last year, has already seen more than 5,200 men take part, and the Government is scaling it with a new Men Connect pilot that works through Family Resource Centres in Monaghan, Sligo and Waterford.

Working via FRCs is strategic: these centres are community hubs, so outreach can be less clinical and more approachable. In practice, that means drop-in promotion, outreach events and local counselling that feels familiar rather than intimidating , exactly the kind of change that can nudge someone to pick up the phone.

Expanding supports for LGBTQ+ people and young people , why it matters

LGBTQ+ people and young people often face particular stresses and barriers to care: stigma, worries about confidentiality, and services that aren’t culturally tuned to their needs. The new funding explicitly flags support for these groups, which suggests counselling will be tailored or routed through specialist providers.

That matters because early intervention works. Short, accessible counselling sessions can stabilise a crisis, reduce isolation and connect people with ongoing care. For families and carers, it means more options to suggest when someone is struggling, and for young people it can be the difference between getting help early or drifting away from services.

How the CTI partnership could change the delivery model

Community Therapy Ireland spans 29 counselling and psychotherapy providers, so the HSE tie-up should increase the number of practitioners available under publicly funded or subsidised schemes. Expect more local clinics, flexible appointment times and potentially hybrid or online options that suit younger clients.

Practical tip: if you’re seeking help, ask whether local CTI-affiliated services accept HSE referrals or offer sliding-scale fees. That can shave weeks off waiting times and save you calls to multiple providers.

What to watch next and how to access the new services

This funding round is a welcome push, but distribution and delivery will be key. Watch for details from the HSE and local Family Resource Centres about how to book into Men Connect pilots, or which CTI members are taking new referrals. Local media and health websites will list roll-out dates and contact points as the programmes launch.

If you or someone you know needs support now, organisations such as Heads Up and local counselling networks can help you find immediate options. And remember: asking for help is a practical step, not a weakness.

It's a small but practical boost that could widen access where it's needed most.

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