Emergency Medicine

Programme

 

On 10 December 2025, the Emergency Medicine Programme (EMP) hosted The Open Door: Exploring Mental Health Emergency Care in Ireland at the RCSI Mercer Building, bringing together a diverse group of leaders and frontline professionals from emergency, mental health, acute hospital, community, research and policy settings. The event created a dynamic and collaborative space to reflect on how Ireland responds to people in mental health crisis and how that response must evolve.

Across presentations, breakout discussions and design workshops, attendees explored the latest evidence on the rising numbers of mental health presentations to emergency departments. Contributors from patient representatives, the Mental Health Commission and the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation shared key insights into national trends, system pressures and the lived realities that shape crisis care.

A major theme throughout the day was the critical interface between EDs, acute hospitals and community mental health services. Case studies highlighting children’s pathways and community crisis responses demonstrated both promising innovations and areas where fragmentation continues to impact care.

*Illustrated by Robyn Deasy