Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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574. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the 24-7 crisis intervention within specialist mental health services; when this is to be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49690/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Acute mental health services are delivered on a 24/7 basis. A Vision for Changerecommends that, as part of community secondary care provision, there should be a crisis house available in each catchment area. A number of mental health services have provided crisis houses as part of their community residential provision and, as the mental health services move away from the provision of low and medium support community residences, opportunities to provide the crisis house model will be explored. In other areas, respite arrangements are in place to address the emergency needs of service users.

As part of the investment in mental health in 2013, 35 posts were identified to provide for the implementation of the Clinical Programme to address self-harm presentations in emergency departments. Currently 23 of these posts are in place and the remainder are in the recruitment process.

The focus continues to be on building the capacity of community mental health teams across Child and Adolescent, General Adult and Psychiatry of Old Age to provide a comprehensive community-based secondary care response. The investment in mental health in 2012 and 2013 meant that almost 900 new mental health professionals are taking their places on community mental health teams and working to introduce the new clinical programmes.

The Suicide Crisis Assessment Nursing Service (SCAN) provides a skilled mental health nursing service to Primary Care that is

- available, accessible and speedy in providing a response to GP requests for a timely assessment of those in suicide/self harm distress

- Carries out a comprehensive (bio-psycho-social) needs and risk assessment of the client within the GP surgery

- Works collaboratively in partnership with the GP (and the wider specialist mental and local community services, as appropriate) to institute a health/social care plan to meet the risk and care needs of the client.

Initially piloted by the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) in South Dublin Cluain Mhuire Mental Health Services and Wexford Mental Health services, the service is currently under development in Waterford, Donegal, Sligo/Leitrim, Dublin North, Dublin South Central, Cork North, Galway/Roscommon and Laois/Offaly.

The NOSP also funds over 42 services within the statutory and voluntary sector such as Samaritans, Pieta House, Console - many of whom provide direct support to individuals in crisis. In 2014, the Samaritans free-call Connect number 116 123 was launched.

The HSE National Mental Health Division Operational Plan 2015 which was published on 18^thDecember, 2014 identifies specific actions to ensure access to mental health services for individuals accessing community mental health services. This includes building the capacity in 2015 to respond on a 24/7 basis to service users engaged with the community mental health services and, as an initial step, to put in place weekend cover for identified service users of the community mental health services.