In the first Research Bulletin for 2025, our Academic Institute shares the latest research news and activity here in St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS).
The Academic Institute is focused on strengthening research culture and supporting research activity in SPMHS, and it publishes a Research Bulletin every quarter to showcase all that’s going on.
You can see some highlights from the latest Research Bulletin below.
Launch of St Patrick’s Institutional Repository (SPIRE)
This year has already brought exciting developments in mental health research. In January, we launched SPIRE (St Patrick’s Institutional Repository), which houses over 20 years of research publications by SPMHS staff. The launch event was a celebration of two decades of research, featuring speakers from academic, clinical, and lived experience backgrounds.
SPIRE is designed to support and amplify the impact of mental health research while ensuring the voices of those with lived experience are heard. The repository will continue to grow, and we encourage staff to contribute academic outputs to help build this valuable resource.
National milestone in mental health research
In December 2024, Ireland became only the second country in the world to implement a National Mental Health Research Strategy. The strategy aligns with the Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan 2022-2024 and provides a structured approach to improving research infrastructure, collaboration, and impact.
Key priorities of the strategy include:
• Sustained funding to strengthen mental health research.
• 15 research priority areas in line with Sharing the Vision.
• Enhanced collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.
• Greater lived experience engagement to ensure meaningful research impact.
A major focus of the strategy is the creation of a National Mental Health Research Collaborative Network, which will provide new opportunities for research partnerships. The SPMHS Academic Institute will share updates on this initiative as it develops.
Research publications and funding opportunities
A range of funding opportunities are now open for mental health researchers:
• Enterprise Partnership Scheme (Postgraduate) 2025: The Enterprise Partnership Scheme (Postgraduate) is a national initiative linking excellent researchers in all disciplines to enterprise. The deadline for applications is 10th April 2025 at 16:00 (local Irish time).
• Ulysses Scheme 2025: Research Ireland has announced 14 collaborative projects involving Ireland and France-based researchers will share a total of €94,000 in funding for research networking under the Ulysses Programme 2025. The deadline for applications is 6th May 2025 at 16:00 (local Irish time).
• HRB Capacity Building for Evidence Synthesis (CBES) 2025: Strengthening capacity building and support for evidence synthesis on the island of Ireland while contributing to the development of a co-ordinated global infrastructure. Closing date for applications is 11 April 2025.
• HRB Investigator-Led Clinical Trials (ILCT) Programme 2025: The ILCT Programme supports research that addresses questions of direct relevance to the improvement of patient care, health of the public and health services and that has strong potential to have immediate use for decision makers in everyday clinical practice or policy. This is a rolling call, where applications can be submitted anytime up until October 2025.
• HRB Collaborative Research Network for Mental Health 2025 The HRB has opened a grant call for the creation of a single collaborative research network in mental health, to support the implementation of the National Mental Health Research Strategy. Funding is €1 million over 60 months and the deadline is 30 May 2025.
Recent publications
SPMHS researchers have contributed to significant publications in mental health, including:
• "Inflammatory markers associated with electroconvulsive therapy response in depression": Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. Read more here.
• "Retrograde amnesia following electroconvulsive therapy for depression": BJPsych Open. Read more here.
• "Association between solar insolation changes and suicide attempts in bipolar disorder": International Journal of Bipolar Disorders. Read more here.
For a full list of recent publications, visit SPIRE.
SPMHS Researchers at National Conferences
Congratulations to our staff who presented at recent conferences, including:
• Dr. Sarah O’Dwyer – Tips for Tribunals, NCHD Annual Conference.
• Dr. Michelle Corrigan – Clinical Skills Facilitator in Mental Health, RCSI Annual Research Conference.
• Dr. Daniel van Tonder – Virtual Mental Health Wards: A Scoping Review, TCD School of Nursing and Midwifery Conference.
Article of the issue: Research needs in psychiatry training
Our featured article, "Research Needs of Higher Specialist Trainees in Psychiatry in Ireland", explores the challenges and opportunities in psychiatric research training.
Key findings:
• 30% of surveyed trainees reported difficulty finding research supervision.
• Many felt limited in their choice of projects and desired more structured guidance.
• Increased research literacy is needed to navigate the growing volume of medical literature.
Read the full article on SPIRE here.
Researcher Spotlight
Dr. Carmel McAuliffe, CBT Therapist at the Dean Clinic, Cork, reflects on her career in mental health research and clinical practice.
Can you tell us about your research career to date?
I graduated from University College Cork in 1996 with a degree in Applied Psychology and began my research career with the National Suicide Research Foundation. My work focused on deliberate self-harm, particularly through the WHO/EU multicentre study, where I collected data and interviewed patients in Cork hospitals. This sparked my interest in problem-solving ability and its link to suicidal ideation. My MPhil and PhD research explored these connections further, leading to studies on suicidal intent and motives for self-harm.
In 1999, I joined the HSE Southern Area as a research coordinator, working on a large randomized controlled trial of group interpersonal problem-solving skills training (IPSST) for self-harm patients. Training as a cognitive-behavioural therapist (CBT) helped me bridge research and clinical practice. The trial demonstrated that IPSST reduced repeat self-harm and improved problem-solving skills, with outcomes matching those of a new crisis nurse service informed by problem-solving training.
In 2012, after the birth of my second child, I transitioned into clinical work as a CBT therapist at SPMHS. I now work on the Transdiagnostic CBT Skills Programme but remain engaged in research. My current interest is in suicide rates among middle-aged women, particularly in relation to perimenopause and menopause, as data suggest this group has the highest female suicide rate in both Ireland and the UK.
What are you currently working on?
At this point I have started a literature review and have begun a conversation with Brendan Gogan, head of the CBT department and with Gráinne Donohue, Programme Manager at the Academic Institute. I became aware of the establishment of the Academic Institute through a presentation given at a Weekly Academic Meeting last year and this really gave me a chance to explore possibilities for collaboration with colleagues in SPMHS and former research colleagues at the NSRF.
What do you see as a priority for mental health research over the next five years?
To better understand the mental health needs of women in perimenopause and post menopause so that we can provide an optimal mental health service response.
Any tips for SPMHS staff wishing to engage in research projects?
Listen first to the service user and to what they are telling you before deciding what to research. Use the resources of the Academic Institute for guidance and support. Clinical work is consuming so schedule ‘thinking time’ in your working week. Start conversations with colleagues in SPMHS. Network, network, network.
Where can we find your work?
Please click here
