Acute Mental Healthcare in Hospital Emergency Departments in Ireland
A National Survey from the Office of the Inspector of Mental Health Services
The Mental Health Commission (MHC) has this morning published a report demonstrating substantial variations in the level of mental health services provided in hospital emergency departments across all health regions in Ireland.
Authored by the Inspector of Mental Health Services, Professor Jim Lucey - and based on a 100% response from every HSE hospital with an emergency department or a minor injury unit - the report, entitled ‘Acute Mental Healthcare in Hospital Emergency Departments in Ireland’ highlights the need to increase the range of acute mental health services provided nationally to improve urgent access and quality of unscheduled mental health care.
The report shows that mental health assessment in emergency departments is associated with substantial delays especially for ‘out-of-hours’ assessment; and a ‘poverty of appropriate space’ across most emergency departments. It also includes references to prolonged and inappropriate placement in emergency departments of children seeking acute support.
Date of publication: 17/042025
