Mary Butler TD today officially launched the enhanced SASSY Adolescent Dual Diagnosis Hub Team

Mary Butler TD today officially launched the enhanced SASSY Adolescent Dual Diagnosis Hub Team, a specialist HSE service supporting young people under 18 with co-existing mental health and substance use difficulties.

Based on Lisburn Street in Dublin 7, SASSY serves IHA Dublin North City and West, as well as IHA Dublin North, and provides specialist Tier 3 assessment, treatment, and consultation services. The team also provides advice and support to other services working with young people whose needs can be managed outside the specialist hub.

Funding secured through the HSE National Clinical Programme for Dual Diagnosis has enabled a significant expansion of the multidisciplinary team and its specialist expertise. The service now comprises 15 clinical posts, alongside dedicated administrative support.

The enhanced service provides a hub-and-spoke model of care, with clinics delivered at locations across North Dublin to improve access for young people and their families. It supports approximately 170 to 200 young people each year.

The investment has also supported the introduction of parent support groups, including late-afternoon and evening sessions, sibling support groups, and expanded therapeutic interventions for young people and families.

Speaking at the event Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler TD said: “I am really pleased to launch the enhanced SASSY Adolescent Dual Diagnosis Hub Team here in Dublin, representing a key milestone in the rollout of the National Clinical Programme for Dual Diagnosis.”

“I am very encouraged to see the range of supports and services provided here for young people who experience a mental health condition and an addiction issue, and to hear about the 200 young people already benefiting from these innovative approaches every year.”

“The introduction of the additional supports for parents, siblings and families, is incredibly important, ensuring that we can respond to their needs – as well as those of young people themselves – in the most comprehensive and coordinated ways possible.”

“Early intervention accessible mental health services like SASSY are critical for young people, and I know the HSE team here will continue to improve outcomes for people on their recovery journey.”

Speaking at the event, Dr Gerry McCarney, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with the SASSY Adolescent Dual Diagnosis Hub, said: “Young people who are experiencing both mental health and substance use difficulties can have complex needs, and their families often need support too. This investment allows our multidisciplinary team to provide more joined-up, age-appropriate care, while making specialist advice and treatment more accessible across North Dublin. We are particularly pleased to be able to strengthen supports for parents, siblings and families as part of a young person’s care.”

The development supports the HSE’s commitment to providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time, with strengthened community-based mental health services and improved access to early intervention for children and young people. It is also consistent with the National Clinical Programme for Dual Diagnosis model of care, which provides distinct, age-appropriate pathways for adolescents and adults.