People who suffer from mental illness are to be asked for their views on the services available to them in Ireland.
More than 100 submissions have already been made to a Government-appointed body set up to examine mental health policy.
The Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, established last August by Minister of State Mr Tim O'Malley, has been asked to prepare a comprehensive mental health policy framework for the next ten years, to recommend how the services might best be organised and delivered.
It will consult with service users in the New Year during the second phase of its work.
Professor Joyce O'Connor, chair of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy said she was delighted with the public's response to the first phase of the consultation process.
"Each submission received will be carefully read and considered by members of the Expert Groupand will feed into the Group's deliberations over the next few months."
A recent survey carried out by Mental Health Ireland found that some 73 per cent of people had experienced mental illness within their families or their circle of friends or acquaintances.