GP blog on adolescent mental health
In this quarter’s GP blog, Carol McCormack, Clinical Nurse Manager 3 at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services’ Willow Grove Adolescent Unit, offers guidance for GPs managing adolescent mental health presentations in their surgeries, including when to refer to specialist or inpatient care.
Upcoming CPD-recognised webinars for GPs
We are delighted to announce the return of our 2026 GP Webinar Series this autumn, with a number of CPD-recognised webinars planned:
- 7 October | 7pm – 8pm: Addictions and dual diagnosis
- 20 October | 7pm – 8pm: Anti-depressant prescribing in adolescence
- 11 November | 7pm – 8pm: Eating disorders in adolescence.
These webinars are free to attend but registration is essential. You can register for these webinars through the link below. Available CPD points will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Annual Report and Outcomes Report for 2025 published
We have published our Annual Report and Outcomes Report for 2025, which highlight a busy year of high-quality service delivery and ongoing strategic development.
St Patrick’s celebrates 280th year anniversary
This August marked the 280th anniversary of the foundation of Saint Patrick’s Hospital – the first psychiatric hospital to be built in Ireland and one of the very first in the world. Founded in 1746 through the will of noted author and satirist, Jonathan Swift, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services has since become Ireland’s largest independent not-for-profit mental healthcare provider.
Learn more about Jonathan Swift’s legacy and our rich history here.
Referrals invited for Compassion-focused Therapy for Psychosis (CFT-P) programme
The Psychology Department here at SPMHS is accepting referrals for the upcoming cycle of its Compassion-Focused Therapy for Psychosis (CFT-P) programme, starting 23 September 2026. CFT-P is aimed at people with experiences of psychosis, such as paranoia or delusions. It is not necessary to have a diagnosis related to psychosis (eg. schizophrenia) to participate - both those with and without such diagnoses are eligible to attend.
If you have any queries regarding an individual’s suitability for the CFT-P programme, please contact Ms Tara Deehan, Senior Counselling Psychologist, Telephone: 01 249 3578 or email: tdeehan@stpatricks.ie.
Read more about CFT-P here.
Older adult programmes available at St Patrick’s
We offer a number of psychological therapy day programmes for older adults. The older adult psychology team will assess which programme is most suitable so please add ‘assessment for older adult psychology day programmes’ to your referral'. Older adult day programmes accepting referrals, are outlined below:
- Living Well with Mild Cognitive Impairment: This group programme offers support for people in managing the emotional, cognitive and practical elements of a mild cognitive impairment diagnosis. The programme runs on a rolling structure and new members can be added to the current cycle pending assessment of suitability. Next cycle starts 7 December 2026.
- SAGE: This group therapy programme is designed to address mental health difficulties in older adults whose coping style involves patterns of emotional suppression, distance in relationships, and maintaining a high level of standards and routines. Next cycle starts 14 October 2026.
- Compassion-Focused Therapy for Older Adults: This group therapy programme is designed for older adults who experience high levels of self-criticism and shame which may be underlying their mental health difficulties. It supports adults to cultivate compassion in their lives and reduce self-criticism and shame. Next cycle starts 28 January 2027.
- The Older Adult Formulation Group: This group has been specifically designed for older adults who are interested in developing a psychological understanding of their mental health difficulties. Next cycle starts 2027.
More information about the older adult programmes at SPMHS is available here.
Psychology Skills Group for Adolescents open for referrals
The Psychology Department here at SPMHS is accepting GP referrals for its Psychology Skills Group for Adolescents (PSGA). PSGA is a psychological group therapy for young people, aged 14 to 18, who are experiencing a range of mental health difficulties such as emotional dysregulation, low mood, anxiety or eating disorders. The group takes place online via Microsoft Teams, with referrals accepted on a rolling basis every four to six weeks.
Continue to…
Adolescent mental health: A guide for GPs