Mental Health Reform

What Mental Health Reform does

Mental Health Reform Limited is Ireland's leading national coalition on mental health, founded in 2006 as The Irish Mental Health Coalition and rebranded in February 2011. Operating as a company limited by guarantee and registered charity, the Dublin-based organisation coordinates a network of 83 member organisations spanning service providers (e.g., Jigsaw, Pieta, Shine, Bodywhys), advocacy groups, and human rights bodies (e.g., Amnesty International Ireland) to deliver a unified voice on mental health reform. With a small team of nine staff, it pursues three core workstreams: policy and research (including the largest Irish mental health service user consultation, My Voice Matters, with over 1,200 participants), advocacy campaigns (notably #ReformMHA and pre-budget Invest in Hope), and innovation programmes such as the CYP-MH Project, Digital Inclusion Initiative, Brave New Connections, VideoConnect, Frontline Screener, and the European eMEN Project.

The organisation's revenue model combines core government funding from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Scheme to Support National Organisations (administered via Pobal and the Department of Rural and Community Development) with three-tier membership fees (Governing, Associate, Affiliate), individual and corporate donations (with CHY3 tax relief on donations of EUR 250+), and project-specific grants from bodies including IHREC, the Irish Research Council, the Community Foundation for Ireland, and RTE Does Comic Relief. Marketing and distribution operate exclusively through a national, community-led model: multi-channel communications (website, newsletter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), Coalition Conversation webinars, an annual conference, and direct representation on over 20 External Advisory Groups shaping national policy.

MHR's go-to-market is governance- and influence-led rather than commercial. Its 'products' are policy submissions, research publications, toolkits (Mental Health Act 2001 Toolkit, Mental Health in the Workplace Guide, Ethnic Minority Guidelines, Cultural Competency Toolkit), and coalition coordination services delivered to NGOs, government departments, people with lived experience, and the academic community under the Strategic Plan 2023-2028. The organisation holds no equity investment, operates as a non-profit with no parent company, and is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from its membership.

Name

Mental Health Reform

Legal name

Mental Health Reform Limited

Website

https://mentalhealthreform.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mental Health Reform is Ireland's leading national mental health coalition, founded in 2006, coordinating 83 member organisations to drive policy advocacy, research, and accountability on mental health reform for NGOs, government, and people with lived experience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Advocacy and Policy Coalition Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Mental health advocacy
• Policy and research
• Coalition coordination
• E-mental health innovation
• Lived experience engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Core funding from HSE (Health Service Executive) and funding under the Scheme to Support National Organisations funded by Government of Ireland through Department of Rural and Community Development
2. Membership Fees: Revenue from membership fees paid by member organisations across three tiers: Governing, Associate, and Affiliate memberships
3. Donations and Philanthropic Funding: Individual donations, corporate donations, and philanthropic funding from various sources
4. Grants: Project-specific grants from various funders including IHREC Grand Fund for workplace rights guide

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mental Health Reform operates as a national coalition delivering policy advocacy, research, accountability, and innovation programmes to reform Ireland's mental health services. It coordinates 83 member organisations across service provision, advocacy, and human rights, runs national campaigns (e.g., Mental Health Act reform, Budget campaigns), commissions and publishes research, and incubates digital and community-based mental health initiatives such as VideoConnect, the CYP-MH Project, Digital Inclusion, Brave New Connections, and the Mental Health Act 2001 Toolkit.

Product overview

Mental Health Reform is Ireland's leading national coalition on mental health—not a single product company but rather an advocacy, policy, and research organisation with a portfolio of initiatives. The core offering consists of policy coordination, research and innovation programmes (including CYP-MH Project, Digital Inclusion, Brave New Connections), digital mental health tools (VideoConnect, Frontline Screener, eMEN), and advocacy campaigns (Mental Health Bill reform, Budget campaigns). The organisation also produces extensive publications and toolkits including the Mental Health Act 2001 Toolkit and Mental Health in the Workplace Guide. These initiatives work together under the Strategic Plan 2023-2028 to drive progressive reform of Ireland's mental health services through coordination, research, accountability and collective advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Innovation Programme Collaborative programme advancing digital mental health, inclusive design, policy experiments and grassroots pilots, partnering with lived-experience experts, clinicians, technologists, communities, and policymakers.
• CYP-MH Project (Children and Young People Mental Health) Programme led by Mental Health Reform with Barnardos, ISPCC, Jigsaw, Pieta and SpunOut to develop an economic case and roadmap for scaling up children and young people's mental health services, anchored on LSE-commissioned research.
• Digital Inclusion Initiative Programme examining digital inequalities experienced by people with mental health difficulties and advocating for inclusive digital mental health services across Ireland.
• Brave New Connections Capacity-building project funded by RTE Does Comic Relief supporting non-profit mental health organisations to adapt and develop post-pandemic, with a 2.0 continuation phase for continued sector development.
• VideoConnect Digital mental health initiative enabling video-based mental health consultations and remote service delivery.
• Frontline Screener Digital tool for screening mental health needs among frontline workers.
• eMEN Project European mental health e-mental health project focusing on digital mental health solutions and cross-border innovation.
• Mental Health in the Workplace Guide Co-produced guide helping people with mental health difficulties understand and access their rights in the workplace, funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
• Mental Health Act 2001 Toolkit User-friendly toolkit developed with UCC School of Law explaining human rights under the Mental Health Act 2001, built in consultation with people with lived experience and supported by the Irish Research Council.
• Policy & Research Publications Extensive library of research reports, policy submissions, briefing papers and guidelines covering perinatal suicide, dual recovery, ethnic minority guidelines, LGBTI+ mental health, prison mental health services, and related mental health topics in Ireland.

Quantifiable outcome

• 83 member organisations representing thousands of individuals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered key.

• Mental Health CommissionkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed Ethnic Minority Guidelines (2016, 2021) and ongoing collaboration on guidelines and code of practice development including pharmacological restraint and restrictive practices
• LSE (London School of Economics)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned economic research on children and young people's mental health (CYP-MH Project) providing evidence-based economic case for investment
• Barnardos, ISPCC, Jigsaw, Pieta, SpunOut (CYP-MH Partnership)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive established VCS providers of mental health services for children and young people collaborating on CYP-MH Project with Mental Health Reform
• University College Cork School of LawkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop Mental Health Act 2001 Toolkit providing user-friendly information on human rights for people with mental health difficulties
• Diverse CymrukeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelsh pan-equality organisation that co-developed the Cultural Competency Toolkit for working with ethnic minority communities
• LGBT IrelandkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in My LGBTI+ Voice Matters research project exploring experiences of LGBTI+ mental health service users
• Disability Participation and Consultation Network (DPCN)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded member in partnership with Inclusion Ireland, AsIAm, and Disability Federation of Ireland to ensure disabled people are actively engaged in policy and legislation

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): The US's largest grassroots mental health organisation, structured as a coalition of state and local affiliates. Directly comparable coalition model, policy advocacy focus, and affiliate governance structure to MHR's 83-member network.
• Mental Health Foundation (UK): UK charity focused on prevention, research, and public mental health, with strong policy and advocacy engagement. Comparable to MHR's mix of research (LSE partnership), public-facing campaigns, and government-facing policy work.
• Mental Health America: US community-based nonprofit addressing the needs of those living with mental illness through advocacy, education, and research. Comparable in scale of national advocacy reach and policy influence orientation.
• Mind (UK): England and Wales's leading mental health charity, operating as a federated network of local Minds providing advocacy, information, and campaigning. Most directly comparable to MHR in mission (national mental health reform/advocacy), funding model (grants, donations, fundraising), and coalition-style structure.
• Rethink Mental Illness: UK charity working to improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through campaigning, service delivery, and policy influence. Closely comparable on the policy reform and government engagement dimensions that define MHR's work.

Others

• Mental Health Commission of Canada: Canadian policy and standards body in mental health. Not a charity peer but a comparable institution involved in national mental health policy development, frameworks, and reform — useful as a structural comparison for MHR's role in shaping Irish policy.

Regional players

• Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH): Scotland's national mental health charity delivering campaigning, information, and services. Highly comparable in operating model (national charity, government grants, member-style stakeholder engagement) but operating in a different national jurisdiction.
• See Change: Ireland's national alliance working to reduce mental health stigma through partnership of over 100 organisations. Highly comparable operating geography and coalition-of-organisations model, though narrower mission (stigma reduction only).
• AWARE: Ireland's national depression support organisation and a governing member of MHR. Comparable in mission (mental health awareness and support in Ireland) and operating geography, but with a more direct service-delivery rather than coalition-coordination model.

Emerging players

• Together for Mental Wellbeing: UK charity supporting people with mental health needs through advocacy, community-based support, and policy work. Comparable in advocacy-plus-direct-support mix and similar charity-scale operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MHReform
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCZPCQUMFPFL_3M_UmjpOzg
• Facebookfacebook.com/mentalhealthreform
• LinkedInie.linkedin.com/company/mental-health-reform
• Instagraminstagram.com/mhreform

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mental Health Reform