The Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler, has officially launched the newly established Early Intervention Psychosis (EIP) Team based at Ballyfermot Primary Care Centre, marking a significant milestone in the development of mental health services in the region.
The service will provide specialist support across the Ballyfermot and Lucan areas, serving a population of approximately 80,000 people.
The team will be located within the award-winning Ballyfermot Primary Care Centre, which has served the local community for over a decade providing a large range of critical services across primary care, mental health and addiction services.
The multidisciplinary team will provide evidence-based, recovery-focused care to individuals experiencing psychosis, and their families, over a three-year period. The service aims to reduce delays in assessment and treatment and maximise recovery through high-quality bio-psycho-social interventions. It also sets out to prevent relapse, and support people to achieve positive outcomes in areas such as education, employment and relationships.
Minister Butler outlined how she was “really pleased to launch the Early Intervention Psychosis team here in Ballyfermot. Early intervention is one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes for people experiencing psychosis.
“By providing specialist support at the earliest possible stage, we can significantly reduce the impact of illness, support recovery, and help people continue to participate fully in family, education, employment and community life. This service is a clear example of our commitment under Sharing the Vision to deliver accessible, person-centred mental health services in communities across the country."
Kate Killeen White, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and Midlands, added that it was a “landmark development in our regional mental health services. The establishment of a dedicated Early Intervention Psychosis Team reflects a growing body of evidence that timely, specialist intervention can transform lives and improve long-term outcomes. We are proud to support a model of care that places recovery, family engagement and community-based treatment at its centre, while building capacity for future expansion across other region."
Consultant Psychiatrist and National Clinical Lead for Early Intervention in Psychosis, Dr Karen O'Connor, noted how “every new team means more young people can access specialist support earlier - when it has the greatest potential to change the course of illness. Early intervention helps people recover, stay connected to education, employment and their families, and build hopeful futures.
“We are grateful for the Minister's continued support for Early Intervention in Psychosis. Sustained investment is enabling us to expand access to specialist care, bringing life-changing interventions closer to the people and families who need them."
The Ballyfermot-Lucan EIP Team represents an important step in the national rollout of the Early Intervention Psychosis model of care and demonstrates the ongoing commitment of Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow Mental Health Services to delivering high-quality, evidence-based mental health services.