New mental health crisis services in Louth are set to receive €660,000 in recurring annual funding, including four specialist Crisis Nurses at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and a new Solace Café.
Senator Alison Comyn announced the investment, saying it would strengthen support for people experiencing mental health distress outside normal service hours.
Of the total funding, €360,000 is to provide four Crisis Nurses at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, while a further €300,000 will fund a new Solace Café for Louth.
“Mental health crises don’t happen between nine and five. When someone reaches the point where they need help, that help needs to be there,” Senator Comyn said.
Four crisis nurses for Drogheda
The four new nursing posts are intended to provide specialist mental health support at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital during key out-of-hours periods.
Nationally, the Government has already committed to placing specialist mental health nursing teams in Model 4 hospital emergency departments outside normal hours as part of its wider expansion of crisis services.
Senator Comyn said the additional support would be particularly significant for Drogheda.
“This is really significant for Drogheda and for Louth. Too often, people experiencing a mental health crisis, and their families, are left trying to work out where to turn outside normal service hours.
“The four Crisis Nurses will provide specialist support at Our Lady of Lourdes during those crucial periods.”
New Solace Café for Louth
A further €300,000 has been allocated, according to Senator Comyn, for a new Solace Café in Louth.
Solace Cafés are designed as free, non-clinical environments where adults experiencing mental health difficulties or crisis can access support, particularly outside normal service hours.
Existing Solace Cafés provide one-to-one support for people who may be feeling distressed, overwhelmed, or isolated, while also helping connect them with other services where appropriate.
Senator Comyn said:
“The Solace Café will offer something different: a calm and welcoming place where people can talk to someone, receive one-to-one and peer support and be connected with the services they need.
“Early intervention can prevent distress escalating into a much more serious crisis. For someone who needs urgent support but doesn’t need emergency medical treatment, it can also provide an alternative to presenting at a busy Emergency Department.”
The Government has been expanding community-based crisis alternatives nationally, including Crisis Resolution Teams and Solace Cafés, as part of its mental health and suicide reduction strategy.
Recurring annual funding
Senator Comyn thanked Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler for the allocation and said its recurring nature was particularly significant.
“I want to particularly thank Minister Mary Butler for recognising the need here in Louth and Drogheda. The fact that this is recurring annual funding is hugely important. It means these additional supports can become part of our mental health services for the longer term.”
She said the new services would sit alongside plans to increase psychiatric capacity at Crosslanes.
“Alongside the progress being made to increase psychiatric capacity at Crosslanes, we are strengthening mental health care at different points, from early intervention and out-of-hours crisis support through to acute psychiatric care.
“Ultimately, when somebody says, ‘I need help now’, there needs to be somewhere for them to go and someone there to listen.”
