Three UCD projects involved in €3m investment into Irish mental health research
12 January 2026
Credit: Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash
Three UCD-led projects are set to receive a share of €3 million in funding to support mental health research being undertaken in Ireland.
The investment will fund ten research projects overall, set to “progress understanding of mental health in areas such as youth mental health, ADHD in adults, women’s mental health and loneliness in older people,” confirmed the Department of Health.
A grant of €1 million will establish a new all-island Collaborative Research Network in mental health, which will be led by Maynooth University. The remaining €2 million will fund the ten individual research projects.
The three funded UCD projects are:
Project ACCESS (Advancing Care through Single-Session Therapy): Examining the Implementation of Timely Youth Mental Health Interventions in Jigsaw Ireland
- (opens in a new window)Dr Amanda Fitzgerald, UCD School of Psychology, and Dr Jeff Moore, Jigsaw – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health
Single Session Therapy – designed to address an immediate concern in one session – is increasingly used in adult services, but the evidence for its implementation with young people is limited.
This study examines how the model operates in clinical settings, while developing practical tools that support quality in delivery.
“We know that getting timely mental health support can reduce distress and improve outcomes for young people, yet too many still struggle to access appropriate care,” said Dr Fitzgerald.
“This funding will help us understand what works, so more young people can get the right support at the right time.”
Designing an Integrated Women’s Mental Health Service: Enhancing Quality and Integration of Women’s Mental Healthcare
- (opens in a new window)Dr Anne Doherty, UCD School of Medicine, and Dr Richard Duffy, The Rotunda Hospital
This project addresses the often-overlooked mental health needs of women with gynaecological conditions, seeking to to develop practical, evidence-based ways to identify and support those who need specialist care.
“By aligning with national policy commitments such as Sláintecare and Sharing the Vision, this research has the potential to inform more integrated, person-centred services and to improve both mental health outcomes and quality of life for women across the country,” said Dr Doherty.
Dr Doherty is also involved in the all-island Collaborative Research Network, along with (opens in a new window)Professor Walter Cullen and (opens in a new window)Professor Mary Clarke from the UCD School of Medicine.
Integrating Smoking Cessation Interventions into Mental Health Services: National Survey, Guideline Development and Pilot Service Evaluation
- (opens in a new window)Professor Brian O’Donoghue, UCD School of Medicine, and Professor John Lyne, Newcastle Hospital
There are much higher rates of tobacco smoking in people affected by severe mental illness. This project will conduct a survey to understand how mental health services in Ireland are addressing tobacco cessation in their services.
A clinical guideline for the use of pharmacological agents to support people with severe mental illness to stop smoking will be developed and piloted.
“Smoking is a major contributor to the early deaths that are tragically seen in this population, and we need to develop and integrate tailored smoking cessations services within mental health services in order to address this issue,” said Professor O’Donoghue.
By: Rebecca Hastings, Digital Journalist, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
