3Ts Research Supports Dedicated Mental Health Crisis Care – Petition Presented to Oireachtas
23/02/2026On 24 February 2026, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsman are scheduled to hear Public Petition No. P00067/25, calling for people presenting as suicidal not to have to go through A&E, and for the establishment of dedicated mental health A&Es and 24/7 crisis care centres.
The petition is being presented by Joe Loughnane, who has campaigned for this change since his brother Adam tragically took his own life in Galway after waiting in A&E without being seen.
Joe is to be joined by Professor Louise Doyle of Trinity College School of General Nursing and Midwifery, an expert in mental health nursing with over 20 years’ experience in suicide prevention research. Prof Doyle will present 3Ts co-funded research highlighting the experiences of people presenting to Emergency Departments with suicidal behaviour, and the experiences of their families and supporting adults. This research provides strong evidence in support of Joe’s petition for alternative crisis care pathways.
Key Findings from the Research
Study 1: Service User Experiences
Interviews with 50 people across 21 of Ireland’s 26 Emergency Departments highlighted that EDs are often distressing, overcrowded, and not conducive to mental health care.
Participants reported long waits, lack of privacy, formulaic assessments, and rushed interactions, especially from non-mental health ED staff.
Positive experiences were consistently linked to mental health specialists, calm, compassionate engagement, and privacy during assessment.
Many participants stated they would avoid returning to ED in future crises, highlighting dangerous gaps in the system.
Study 2: Experiences of Family Members
Survey responses from 239 family/supporting adults showed that most felt unsupported and excluded from the assessment process.
Over 70% received no guidance on keeping their loved one safe after leaving the ED.
Families highlighted the need for clear information, inclusion in care, and age-appropriate environments for children and adolescents.
Research Recommendations
Both studies emphasise the urgent need for:
Community-based crisis mental health services for those who do not require medical intervention in EDs.
Safe, calm, specialist mental health sub-units or centres within EDs.
Increased capacity for urgent response from community mental health teams.
Targeted investment in child and adolescent emergency mental health provision.
Prof Doyle concludes:
“People in suicidal crisis, and their supporting families, are not asking for complex interventions in an emergency setting. They are asking to be treated with dignity, listened to with patience, and supported with care in an appropriate environment.”
Watch the Session Live
The petition presentation will be broadcast live on Oireachtas TV. If you miss the live stream, we'll post a video link here following the presentation.
Read the full research reports:
Accessing Help for Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviour in the ED: Phase 1
The Experiences and Support Needs of Family/Supporting Adults: Phase 2
3Ts continues to advocate for systemic change so that no one in suicidal crisis has to wait in A&E for help, and that every person receives compassionate, timely, and specialist mental health care.