Smyth receives update on new Youth Mental Health Service in Castleblayney

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan & North Meath, Niamh Smyth, has said she is delighted to receive confirmation from her party colleague and Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, that a Clinical Nurse Specialist, a Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse, a  Grade IV Administration Support and a Youth Mental Health Support Worker will commence their positions this month in line with the establishment of an Early Intervention Youth Mental Health Service [EIYMH], in Castleblayney.

Deputy Smyth commented, "I warmly welcome this news today. I have raised the requirement for such resources on numerous occasions in the Dáil and stressed to both Minister Donnelly & Minister of State for Mental Health, Mary Butler, the need for further help in primary care psychologist support; a SCAN nurse to be allocated to Cavan-Monaghan; and for the Minister of State to look seriously at the potential of putting Jigsaw into Cavan-Monaghan.

"The Cavan Monaghan EIYMH, for young people aged 12 to 25, will be based in the Tusla Castleblayney Child Wellbeing Centre. The service will be managed and clinically governed by a senior psychologist, reporting to the principal psychology manager, enabling strong connectivity with primary care psychology services and wider primary care services.

"The service will operate a Hub and Spoke Model offering brief timely interventions and supports such as social supports, awareness and psychological input to young people within their local communities and in the Wellbeing Centre with established referral pathways to HSE and wider community interventions. I understand that the hub accommodation is currently being refurbished and a youth participation and consultation programme will commence across Cavan-Monaghan in the coming weeks to inform the service design and refurbishment. 

"Mental Health Services in CHO1 work closely with Primary Care Services, Jigsaw and other agencies across CHO1 and nationally to support youth mental health and wellbeing. I have been advised that a meeting with Jigsaw is scheduled to brief Jigsaw representatives on the progress set out above and to obtain their view about what part they could play in supporting the roll out and delivery of this service."

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