Willow Grove Adolescent Unit

Adolescent mental health

Adolescence is a time of significant change and personal growth for teenagers and young people. It is also a time when mental health difficulties can first come up, and when some young people may need support and treatment.

Willow Grove is the dedicated adolescent inpatient unit in St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS). At Willow Grove, we aim to provide high quality care and a nurturing environment for young people on the journey to mental health recovery. We work to help young people and their families to develop skills and build on strengths which enable them to manage their feelings, behaviours and thoughts in a healthier way.

We treat young people going through a range of mental health difficulties, such as:

• anxiety
• depression
• early onset psychosis
• eating disorders
• panic disorder
• obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• self-harming behaviour
• bipolar disorder.

Some young people can also find the experience of day-to-day living very hard.

Our team is made up of a wide range of mental health professionals who combine their skills and knowledge to support the individual needs of each young person to recover from these difficulties.

Inpatient and homecare services

At Willow Grove, we provide inpatient and homecare care to young people.

Our inpatient centre is a 14-bed facility based in the campus of St Patrick’s University Hospital (SPUH) in James’ Street, Dublin 8. As well as having their own bedroom and ensuite bathroom, young people attend the Willow Grove classroom and have regular access to teaching staff during the academic year, with both individual and group learning taking place. Willow Grove is completely separate and distinct from adult units in SPUH, in line with national and international best practice, and following the regulations and Code of Practice of the Mental Health Commission. You can learn more about what to expect from a stay in Willow Grove here.

Our team also provides an adolescent Homecare Service which enables young people to access full, high-quality mental healthcare remotely from their own homes. The young person’s educational needs are discussed before they join the Homecare Service. You can download a brochure on the adolescent Homecare Service here.

Young people who are referred to us go through an assessment process which identifies which service is best for them. A member of the Willow Grove team will contact parents, guardians, and the referrers as part of this to discuss which service may best meet the young person’s needs.

Individual and group approaches

At Willow Grove, we focus on skills to assist and maintain mental health recovery and to promote personal development. Every young person receiving care with us has a personalised care plan with goals and targets for their mental health recovery.

The inpatient unit has a Young Person’s Group Programme, which includes groups such as Psychology Skills, Psychotherapy, Self-Esteem, Assertiveness, Communication Skills, Wellness and Recovery Group (WRAP), occupational therapy groups, music, drama, gym, and activity groups. Education is also central to the programme; this is tailored for individual needs and includes plans for transition back to school.

We provide individual therapy to young people in addition to the group programme.

Young people in the Homecare Service also take part in the group programme and receive one-to-one support. 

Multidisciplinary team

We deliver care in Willow Grove from a multidisciplinary perspective. The team includes child and adolescent psychiatrists and mental health nurses, who work together with clinical psychologists, cognitive behavioural therapists, a social worker, family therapist, occupational therapist, dietician and teacher .

Take a tour of Willow Grove Inpatient Adolescent Unit