Minister Butler Launches New Early Intervention Psychosis Team at Ballyfermot Primary Care Centre

Ballyfermot, Dublin – Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD has officially launched the newly established Early Intervention Psychosis (EIP) Team based at Ballyfermot Primary Care Centre, marking a significant milestone in the development of mental health services in the region.

The new service was funded by Minister Butler in last year’s Budget and developed in line with the National Clinical Programme for Early Intervention Psychosis and the objectives set out in Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan 2025–2027.

The service will provide specialist support across the Ballyfermot and Lucan areas, serving a population of approximately 80,000 people.

The team will be located within the award-winning Ballyfermot Primary Care Centre, which has served the local community for over a decade providing a large range of critical services across primary care, mental health and addiction services.

The multidisciplinary team will provide evidence-based, recovery-focused care to individuals experiencing psychosis and their families over a three-year period. The service aims to reduce delays in assessment and treatment, maximise recovery through high-quality bio-psycho-social interventions, prevent relapse, and support people to achieve positive outcomes in areas such as education, employment and relationships.

Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD. launching the new service said:

"I am really pleased to launch the Early Intervention Psychosis team here in Ballyfermot. Early intervention is one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes for people experiencing psychosis. By providing specialist support at the earliest possible stage, we can significantly reduce the impact of illness, support recovery, and help people continue to participate fully in family, education, employment and community life. This service is a clear example of our commitment under Sharing the Vision to deliver accessible, person-centred mental health services in communities across the country."

Kate Killeen White, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and Midlands stated:

"Today’s launch represents a landmark development in our regional mental health services. The establishment of a dedicated Early Intervention Psychosis Team reflects a growing body of evidence that timely, specialist intervention can transform lives and improve long-term outcomes. We are proud to support a model of care that places recovery, family engagement and community-based treatment at its centre, while building capacity for future expansion across other region."

Dr Karen O'Connor. Consultant Psychiatrist and National Clinical Lead for Early Intervention in Psychosis said: “The launch of our eighth Early Intervention in Psychosis service marks another important milestone in transforming mental healthcare in Ireland. Every new team means more young people can access specialist support earlier, when it has the greatest potential to change the course of illness. Early intervention helps people recover, stay connected to education, employment and their families, and build hopeful futures. We are grateful for the Minister's continued support for Early Intervention in Psychosis. Sustained investment is enabling us to expand access to specialist care, bringing life-changing interventions closer to the people and families who need them."

Dr Yolande Ferguson, Regional Clinical Lead for Mental Health HSE Dublin Midlands commented:

"We are delighted to launch this Early Intervention Psychosis team in the Ballyfermot/Lucan Mental Health Team. There has been a longstanding commitment within this team of dedicating specialist resource to service users experiencing their first episode of psychosis. We have seen first-hand the positive impact for service users and their families in terms of relapse prevention, reduced hospitalisation and participation in education/employment. We are excited to build on this experience to provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and evidence-based service that supports individuals and their families from the very earliest stages of illness, helping them achieve the best possible recovery outcomes.”

Transforming Outcomes Through Early Intervention

Psychosis is a common and treatable condition. Evidence from both Irish and international services has demonstrated that early intervention can reduce rates of hospitalisation, improve clinical and functional recovery, and support people to remain engaged in education, employment and meaningful social relationships.

The new team adopts a proactive rather than reactive approach, ensuring that individuals receive the right intervention at the right time. By delivering specialist care in the community, the service aims to reduce delays in treatment, prevent relapse, and improve long-term outcomes for individuals and their families.

The Ballyfermot-Lucan EIP Team represents an important step in the national rollout of the Early Intervention Psychosis model of care and demonstrates the ongoing commitment of Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow Mental Health Services to delivering high-quality, evidence-based mental health services.