Donegal Mental Health Services has become the first mental health service in the country to offer a dedicated suicide crisis nurse service specifically for teenagers.
The service, which went live on Monday, allows GPs to refer 16 to 18‑year‑olds who present with suicidal thoughts directly to specialist nurses.
Families will be contacted the same day, and a full bio‑psychosocial assessment will take place in the GP surgery within 72 hours. Each young person will leave with a personalised emergency care plan and follow‑up arrangements linking them to the most appropriate services.
The service will roll out initially across north‑east Donegal, from GPs in Manorcunningham through Inishowen, before being extended county‑wide following the completed evaluation of the pilot phase.
The service, called SCAN U, builds on Donegal’s well‑established Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) programme, introduced locally in 2015 for adults referred by their GPs. In that time the adult service has completed more than 2,300 assessments for people at risk of suicide or self‑harm.
SCAN U follows the National Clinical Programme for Self‑Harm and Suicide‑Related Ideation’s updated Model of Care, which calls for rapid, compassionate assessment, active family involvement and seamless handover to longer‑term supports, all outside the pressure of an emergency department.
Assistant Director of Nursing Sarah Toye welcomed the development. “Early intervention at primary‑care level should prevent many distressed young people ending up in the emergency department or on a waiting list for a CAMHS appointment,” she said. “GPs will have instant access to specialist mental‑health expertise, and parents will know support is on hand from the very first day of a crisis.”
John Meehan, HSE Assistant National Director, Access and Integration and Head of the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) said “I am very proud to support the launch of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse Underage Service here in County Donegal. This vital initiative is the result of dedicated efforts by our colleagues in the Donegal Mental Health Services, in collaboration with the HSE’s National Clinical Care Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation. It has been made possible through the crucial support and commitment of the Department of Health, and Minister Mary Butler TD.”
“Strategically, this service aligns with key recommendations from Sharing the Vision and Connecting for Life, Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide. Most importantly, on the ground, I am confident it will make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people in Donegal—ensuring they receive timely, compassionate crisis responses, thorough assessments, tailored care plans, and essential follow-up support.”
Dr Ciarán Roarty said “As a GP in Donegal, I warmly welcome the introduction of this new service for 16 to 18-year-olds. This is a vital and timely initiative that will provide much-needed support to young people in distress, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have in our community. Once again, this highlights the valuable benefits of collaboration between GPs and hospital-based care. I look forward to seeing this initiative rolled out across the county—and hopefully nationwide.”
The Donegal model is expected to inform similar services elsewhere in the country.
Photo Clive Wasson
Pictured Above: Members of the SCAN Steering Committee with Dermot Monaghan IHA Manager at the Launch of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) Underage Service.
Back Row: Damian McCrory, Area Director of Nursing DMHS, Dr Angela McGilloway, SCAN Clinical Lead, Caroline McDermott, SCAN CNS, Frankie Mc Creevy, Donegal Youth Services, Ciara Wray, Donegal Suicide Resource Officer HSE, Mairead Mangan, SCAN CNS, Dr Graeme Michie, Consultant Psychiatrist DMHS, Eugene Duffy, SCAN CNS.
Front Row: L to R Annemarie Hannigan, Assistant Director of Nursing, Dermot Monaghan Donegal IHA Manager, Sarah Toye, Assistant Director of Nursing
Photo Clive Wasson
Pictured above: Keynote Speakers for SCAN U Launch. L to R: Dr Tom Foley,,CAMHS Consultant Psychiatrist, Lorraine Thompson, CEO Donegal Youth Service, Damian McCrory, Area Director of Nursing DMHS, Angela McGilloway, Psychiatric Liaison Consultant/ SCAN Clinical Lead Adult, Sarah Toye, Assistant Director of Nursing DMHS/ SCAN Underage Management Lead, Dr Ragavan Paratian, GP Ark Medical GP Representative on SCAN Steering Group.
