Annual Report demonstrates the key role of digital health technologies in mental healthcare

The 2023 Annual Report also outlined significant progress and achievements in a number of other key pillars of activity that are central to our mission and vision, including service user partnership, advocacy and education, and research and training. Please click on the plus sign (+) beside each area to read more.

• Service delivery

  In 2023, there were 106,919 admission days across our inpatient and Homecare services in St Patrick’s University Hospital (SPUH), St Patrick’s Hospital Lucan (SPL) and Willow Grove Adolescent Unit (WGAU). Additionally, there were 18,679 attendances at our day programmes and a total of 16,258 appointments offered across our network of Dean Clinics in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

  2023 saw the full implementation of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. This ensures, among other things, that a person admitted to an approved centre has their will and preferences in relation to care and treatment fully recognised and respected by those providing the care and treatment. We have worked hard to ensure our clinicians are fully prepared and supported to ensure the rights of service users in relation to the new Act are fully upheld and respected.

  The Mental Health Commission’s annual inspections of SPUH, SPL and WGAU found full compliance with all applicable rules, codes and regulations. Of all rules, codes and regulations applying to SPUH, one standard was found to be non-compliant in 2023, which related to service users queueing to enter the dining room on wards (an occurrence emerging from practices related to COVID-19). These excellent results reflect the commitment of all staff working in SPMHS to delivering the highest standards of quality.

  Our general activities timetable was reviewed in 2023 to allow service users to access relaxation and other activities online. Our inpatient activity programme had several new additions in the year, including a choir, candle-making and botanical plaster casting. The creative activity rooms (pottery, art and craft rooms) and other onsite groups - such as gardening groups, mindful yoga, a craft group, bingo, quizzes, Lego group and yoga nidra - continued for service users to access in 2023.

  In 2023, we underwent a full reassessment for the KeepWell Mark by IBEC, which is a recognised workplace wellbeing accreditation in Ireland. We were delighted to retain the KeepWell Mark and, again, feedback was very positive, recognising the importance we place on staff wellbeing.

• Advocacy

  In 2023, following consultation with our Advocacy Committee members, staff and service users, we launched and began implementation of our new Advocacy Strategy, which will span from 2023 to 2027. The new strategy builds on our extensive advocacy work to date and sets out clear goals, while allowing an agile response to changing needs in mental health and wellbeing.

  Plans to progress the development of an advocacy centre and interactive education centre, both of which will be key elements of a new national centre for mentally healthy living being developed in the historic building of our Dublin 8 campus, continued during 2023. Jack Morton, a global brand experience agency, was appointed in January 2023 to design and construct the fit-out of the education centre, and a design concept for the centre was completed. A key principle of the design approach - and in line with our organisational strategy - is to incorporate the feedback of key stakeholders. With this in mind, consultation for the education centre continued throughout 2023 with multiple stakeholders and experts.

  We contributed to 10 consultations in 2023, including new European Commission mental health initiatives, a national migrant integration strategy, a policy framework for youth participation in decision-making, and more.

  We continued our participation in mental health advocacy at an international level, extending our membership of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Pan-European Mental Health Coalition until 2025 and taking part in the Global Mental Health Advocacy Network. We also facilitated a visit to SPUH by the WHO Unit Head of Policy, Law, and Human Rights at the Department of Mental Health and Substance Use and a Technical Officer with the WHO Mental Health Policy and Service Development team.

  During 2023, SPMHS and Walk in My Shoes (WIMS), our flagship mental health awareness-raising initiative, developed and rolled out 20 different campaigns and initiatives, as well as 28 events. A key event was a wellness-themed, festival-style event in the gardens of SPUH for service users and staff, their families, and partner organisations to mark the launch of our new five-year strategy, The Future in Mind, and to celebrate recovery. WIMS also continued to develop new resources and to support research and development for the new education centre project: 122 students took part in its Transition Year Programme, 137 applications were received for its Frame of Mind short film competition, more than 200 schools registered to create its Mission Possible Wellbeing Walls, and 612 teachers had signed up to its School Portal by the end of the year.

  Results from our 2023 Attitudes to Mental Health and Stigma Survey revealed a high prevalence of self-stigma and indicated that the Irish public are more likely to treat friends and loved ones experiencing mental health difficulties with compassion and understanding than they would themselves.

• Research and training

  We place immense value on clinical research and education, viewing it as a key element of our wider remit.

  Through consultation with staff, service user and carer representatives in 2023, our Academic Institute identified five priorities to help guide the agenda for our new Research Strategy, which seeks to address both the opportunities and the challenges in conducting research at SPMHS. The strategy promotes a positive culture for service user-led research with the idea that, with the right supports for researchers, we can continue to make significant contributions to the knowledge of and treatment of people experiencing mental health difficulties.

  Throughout 2023, the Academic Institute continued to consolidate real time research outputs, projects commenced and ongoing, and funding attracted. During 2023, members of our research teams were named as authors or co-authors on a total of 23 published papers in high-impact journals, and delivered 21 external conference presentations. The Research Ethics Committee also approved nine studies.

  We are committed to developing the competencies of people committing to working in mental healthcare and, in 2023, the SPMHS Training Office Strategy for 2023 to 2027 was approved. This strategy outlines the development of professional training activities, based on the resources available within SPMHS and in line with our organisational strategy, to improve society’s awareness and support of mental health at a citizen, employer, employee, health professional and government level. In addition, our Training Governance Committee was established in 2023 to develop, implement and audit processes pertaining to the delivery and management of training requests and agreements with external organisations.

• Service user engagement

  We are committed to partnering with service users and ensuring that service users’ voices and views are reflected in every aspect of our operations and services.

  During the year, we worked to strengthen service user engagement structures, including our Service User and Supporters Council (SUAS), by addressing the recommendations of an independent evaluation which were made available in mid-2023. A new development plan was agreed for service user engagement and partnership, and an evaluation mechanism was identified to assess the effectiveness of our service user and supporters’ involvement structures.

  SUAS met 11 times in 2023 and had eight members by the end of 2023. The SUAS Chair attended monthly meetings with our CEO throughout the year and, in December, presented on SUAS and service user engagement at a meeting with our CEO, the CEO of the Mental Health Commission, and a visiting delegation from the WHO. Members hosted a Consultative Forum in June to gather feedback from members of the Service User Advisory Network (SUAN) and the Family, Carers and Supporters (FCS) Advisory Network on their proposal to introduce peer support workers in SPMHS, with a working group set up after this forum. In addition, SUAS members continued to deliver a fortnightly pre-discharge session as part of the Pillars of Wellness programme, which provided the opportunity for members to share their experience of leaving hospital with others preparing to do the same.

  SUAN had 145 members by the end of 2023, and the FCS Advisory Network had 32 members. 18 members of these networks joined three internal strategic project groups in 2023, and members of these networks also participated in our webinars, research, events and initiatives.

  The Remote Care User Advisory Forum met monthly from March to November 2023, providing input on communications about digital health and to help increase use of Your Portal among service users.

  In 2023, it was decided to present an overview of key points and trends from the feedback through our Service User Experience Surveys to our Senior Management Team twice per year. Actions are agreed to address issues highlighted by service user feedback.