The findings of a three year study exploring the transition from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) in Ireland were released at a conference held in Lucena Clinic Services recently. They suggest that improved planning, delivery and quality of effective transition between CAMHS and AMHS are necessary to improve the process and outcomes for young people with mental health service needs.
Funded by the Health Research Board and completed in partnership with University College Dublin, the ITRACK study examined mental health service organisation, policies, processes and user and carer perspectives. Pictured are (from left) research collaborator Dr Barbara Dooley of UCD, Principal Investigator Professor Fiona McNicholas of Lucena Clinic Services and UCD, lead researcher Dr Niamh McNamara (University of Bedfordshire) and conference speaker, Dr Zoebia Islam of University of Warwick and DeMontfort University.
While the transfer of written information between services was perceived to be very good, there was clear evidence that the process of transition between CAMHS and AMHS was poorly managed, with little direct face-to-face or telephone communication between services. Data analysis is currently underway and comprehensive findings will be available in the coming months. For more information see McNamara, N. et al (2013) ‘Transition from child and adolescent to adult mental health services in the Republic of Ireland: An investigation of process and operational practice’, Early Intervention in Psychiatry (doi: 10.1111/eip.12073) PMID: 23826636 [Epub ahead of print].
Research Assistants were Mr Michael Adamson (University College Dublin) and Dr Lesley O’Hara (Lucena Clinic). Collaborators included Dr Blanaid Gavin, Dr Siobhan Barry and Dr Karen O’Connor from Saint John of God Hospitaller Ministries, along with collaborators from Trinity College Dublin (Prof Imelda Coyne), University of Limerick (Prof Walter Cullen), University College Dublin (Dr Barbara Dooley) and University of Warwick (Prof Swaran Singh, Dr Moli Paul).
The ITRACK project was carried out with an award of €198,973.80.
The conference held at Lucena Clinic Services on 11th February was called Mind the Gap: Transition from CAMHS to AMHS in Ireland. Speakers were Dr Zoebia Islam (De Montfort University / University of Warwick), Dr Niamh McNamara (University of Bedfordshire) and Ciaran Cobbe (PROTECT Wicklow).
The conference was well attended by interested parties from Saint John of God Hospitaller Ministries, Crumlin Children’s Hospital, ISPCC, Barnardos, Headstrong, HADD, the National Service Users Executive, Mental Health Ireland, the Mental Health Commission, Mental Health Reform, University of Ulster, University College Dublin, University of Limerick, University of Bedfordshire and University of Warwick.
For further information contact:
Michael Adamson
Research Assistant
Lucena Clinic
59 Orwell Road
Rathgar
Dublin 6
01-4999739 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
