Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has welcomed the long-overdue mental health crisis de-escalation team pilot, that will begin operating in Limerick from today.

The pilot was originally announced in 2021 by the Minister for Justice but has faced many delays in officially starting.

Teachta Ward said:

“Today, in Limerick, a mental health crisis de-escalation team will begin operating for people in an emergency situation.

“This was first announced by Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, in mid-2021, with the promise that it would begin operating in late 2022.

“What has followed is delay after delay with the start date continuously being pushed out.

“Here we are, over three years later from the original announcement. At least it has begun and I wish the team members the very best of luck as they operate over the next few months.

“This multi-agency team contains mental health experts, members of An Garda Síochána and a paramedic.

“This team will call to a person experiencing a mental health issue in our community. This specially trained team will meet the person, triage them, treat them and refer or bring them to the appropriate service.

“A pilot that was rolled out in Belfast operated between the hours of 7pm and 7am on a Friday and Saturday in parts of the city for a year.

“The results speak for themselves. The team had 193 referrals in that space of time. Of these, 94 referrals were face-to-face crisis de-escalation contacts.

“Out of these crisis de-escalation contacts, they managed to divert 131 people who would have had to attend emergency departments, which is most welcome. It took the pressure off an already-under strain hospital system.

“It also diverted 61 people from the judicial system, who, on another day, could have found themselves being charged, despite the fact that they were mentally unwell, because they may or may not have broken the law.

“This crisis de-escalation team was able to meet, treat and triage them in the community and refer them to the appropriate services.

“We will soon see the benefits of this project in Limerick.

“Further questions will have to be raised if the new Mental Health Bill would require authorised officers to be included in the teams to approve involuntary admissions.

“It amazes me how an election on the horizon is one of the main motivating factors for getting this pilot to begin – communities have been calling out for solutions for crisis situations for years now. The delay has had an impact.”