Launch of major new national information campaign to encourage more adults to plan ahead

The MHC, the HSE, and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) have announced the launch of a major national public information campaign to encourage advance planning among adults in Ireland.

The campaign, titled “You Know Me”, which began yesterday, May 4, and will run throughout the summer and into autumn, aims to prompt a national mindset shift around advance planning, including the use of Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) and Advance Healthcare Directives (AHDs), both of which are delivered through the Decision Support Service (DSS).

At its core, the campaign features ordinary people in real relationships, sharing their personal experiences and explaining why it is so important to plan ahead. By highlighting authentic voices and lived experiences, the campaign seeks to reframe advance planning as a positive and empowering step, and an act of care, trust and personal agency.

This collaborative initiative is supported by a wide range of stakeholders across health, social care and the advocacy sectors, including the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the Irish Hospice Foundation, Nursing Homes Ireland, Family Carers Ireland, Safeguarding Ireland and Age Friendly Ireland.

The campaign also marks three years since the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the establishment of the DSS, recognising the significant progress made to date and the shared commitment to increasing uptake of advance planning tools across Irish society.

John Farrelly, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission, said: “Over the past three years, the Mental Health Commission, through the Decision Support Service, has worked to empower like never before those who require support to exercise their right to make decisions now or who wish to plan ahead so their will and preferences are protected and respected into the future - and that work continues. To date, we have registered more than 8,400 decision support arrangements, reflecting growing awareness and engagement with our services.

“The objective of this summer’s campaign is to significantly scale up awareness of advance planning, to support the growing demand for Enduring Powers of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directives, and to inform and educate the public not only about why planning ahead matters, but critically, how to make a start.”

Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability, Emer Higgins said: “The fact that more than 6,000 people have registered for an Enduring Power of Attorney in the last three years signifies that there is a demand for this service, and that people in all parts of the country need to be aware of the benefits of putting in place an Enduring Power of Attorney and an Advance Healthcare Directive. Every person deserves to have their will and preference known, and I very much hope this public campaign spreads that message.”

Anne O’Connor, HSE CEO, said: “This campaign is based on the principle that every person in Ireland deserves to have their wishes and preferences respected, even if it comes to a time when their ability to speak for themselves is limited. When statutory bodies like the HSE and the DSS work together with a shared purpose, we can achieve important things. We can ensure that the human rights and dignity of every person using our services are not just protected by law but respected in practice.”

Áine Flynn, Director, Decision Support Service, said: “Since opening in 2023, the DSS has made strong progress in supporting people to plan ahead. We have registered over 6,300 Enduring Powers of Attorney, with a further 3,200 submitted for review - bringing the total number of EPAs with us to more than 9,500, and this figure is growing by approximately 100 each week.

“These figures demonstrate encouraging engagement, but they also highlight the scale of the opportunity ahead. EPAs have been available to make for many years, only a small proportion of Irish adults have taken this important step.

“Through this campaign, we want to encourage people of all ages to see advance planning as a normal part of life - something positive, practical and empowering. ‘You Know Me’ will show that planning ahead is about ensuring your wishes are known and respected, and by making things official, it will make things easier for those closest to you.”

Members of the public are encouraged to learn more and begin their advance planning journey by visiting the link www.advanceplanning.ie.