Women’s mental healthcare in the Republic of Ireland

This paper describes recent developments in mental healthcare for women in Ireland and sets them in their historical context. The treatment of women’s mental health in the Republic of Ireland has evolved drastically since the 19th century, when institutions such as ‘lunatic asylums’ and Magdalene Laundries were commonplace. With deinstitutionalisation in the late 20th century, services adapted to community models, though these have remained underfunded. Recent years have witnessed dramatic developments in female-specific services and policies. Despite this progress, unmet needs remain in eating disorders, mental health support for pregnancy loss, infertility and embedding trauma-informed care.