The Minister with responsibility for Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch, says she is confident she can secure extra funding for services.
The Mental Health Reform (MHR) group says people with suicidal urges are being forced into 'dangerous' waits of up to 11 hours in emergency departments.
The MHR says there is a serious shortfall in out-of-hours crisis support, which the Health Service Executive (HSE) has failed to deliver despite its commitments.
It is calling for an extra €35m to be spent in the next budget - with funding set aside for more community counsellors, and a national campaign to reduce the stigma of mental health issues.
MHR director, Dr Shari McDaid, says 24-7 supports are urgently needed or more lives could be put at risk.
And Minister Lynch told Newstalk Lunchtime she will be fighting for the increased budget.
