This is a newly formed research group based at St. Patrick's University Hospital. Its focus is on youth mental health with a particular emphasis on epidemiology, early intervention, psychosis, suicide, service evaluation and outcomes.
The majority of serious mental illnesses emerge in young people before the age of 25. Those affected experience long delays in accessing treatment. These delays reduce the prospects of a full recovery and increases the risk of long-term morbidity. However, there is good evidence that intervening early can make a significant difference to outcomes in these conditions, such as psychosis. The challenge is to develop programmes that specifically target the needs of young people with these newly emerging mental illnesses. Research and evaluation is critical to their development.
