Minister opens new mental health facility

Dublin People 04 Dec 2015
Minister Kathleen Lynch is pictured with Dr Brendan Doody, Clinical Director of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) at Linn Dara.

A NEW state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the needs of young people, and their families, who require inpatient mental health treatment has opened on the Southside.

Minister Kathleen Lynch officially cut the red tape on the new purpose built inpatient unit for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) at Linn Dara Cherry Orchard Campus.

The facility includes two 11-bed units, one for the older adolescent age group up to the age of 18 years and one for children and younger adolescents. The unit also has a two-bed intensive care area.

Attached to the unit is a six-room school building that includes an arts and crafts room and a home economics classroom. An occupational therapy suite is part of the facility.

Sports and activity facilities include a sports hall, gymnasium and outdoor hard court. Young people and staff were consulted at each stage through the design process to ensure it meets their needs and those of their families. In recognition of the needs of parents a family apartment has been provided where families can stay when their child is admitted to the unit. 

Speaking at the opening Minister Kathleen Lynch said the provision of appropriate CAMHS had been a priority over the past number of years.

“In 2007 there were a total of 12 beds available for the admission of children under the age of 18 years,” the minister said. “Over the last number of years significant investment in the construction of new inpatient facilities has delivered new units here at Cherry Orchard as well as two new 20-bed units that opened in Galway and Cork in 2011.  Development work in 2012 provided for an additional six beds in St Vincent’s Fairview which brought its capacity to 12 beds.”

The minister added: “When children and adolescents are in need of acute mental health services, we need to ensure that the physical environment is suitable to help their recovery. This is important for the young people and their families. It is also important for those who are providing the specialist care, in order to give everybody the best chance at a successful outcome.”

Anne O Connor National Director, HSE Mental Health, added:  “I would like to congratulate the team that designed this new CAMHS Inpatient Unit in Linn Dara, and who consulted with staff and service users throughout the design process.

“The new facility will enhance the provision of accessible and appropriate services for young people who are experiencing mental health difficulties and the families that support them. There has been a huge amount of time, energy and work put into improving the services provided by CAMHS’ teams throughout the country, which has decreased waiting lists and inappropriate admissions of young people to adult facilities. It is heartening to see the care, dedication and commitment shown by CAMHS teams to the young people and the families that they serve.”

Dr Brendan Doody, Clinical Director CAMHS Linn Dara, said they had delivered a new building especially designed to meet the needs of young people, and their families, who require inpatient mental health treatment.

“It is a state-of-the-art facility that will provide the optimal therapeutic environment, coupled with a multi-disciplinary staff team, to meet the needs of the young people admitted for assessment and treatment,” he stated.

The Linn Dara South West Dublin Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health teams and the Adolescent Day Hospital service have been located on the Cherry Orchard site since 2012. Bringing the inpatient service onto the same site allows greater integration of services for young

Related News