New Report Highlights Urgent Need for Reform in Crisis Mental Health Services for People Experiencing Homelessness

A new research report has revealed the systemic and structural barriers that prevent people experiencing homelessness in Ireland from accessing timely and appropriate crisis mental health care. The report, led by Dr John Gilmore from University College Dublin, is based on in-depth interviews and a focus group with frontline clinicians and service leaders working in homeless healthcare.

Findings show that individuals facing homelessness are routinely excluded from mainstream mental health services due to rigid eligibility criteria, dual diagnosis exclusions, and fragmented care pathways. Long waiting lists, stigma, and a lack of trauma-informed approaches further compound the difficulties faced by this already vulnerable population.

The research was conducted in collaboration with SafetyNet Primary Care, whose clinicians provided powerful real-world insights into both the barriers and enablers of effective support. Speaking on the launch of the report, SafetyNet CEO Nicola Perry said:

“This report lays bare the systemic barriers that too often prevent people experiencing homelessness from accessing the mental health care they urgently need. It echoes what our clinicians see every day, compassionate, effective support is possible, but only if services are flexible, trauma-informed, and truly integrated.”

The report identifies eight key recommendations, including the integration of mental health, addiction, and housing services, the expansion of trauma-informed training, and the need to reform the Mental Health Act to enable earlier intervention before individuals reach crisis point.

Principal Investigator Dr John Gilmore thanked those involved in the project:

“We are immensely grateful to the clinicians, service leaders, and members of our expert advisory group who generously shared their time and expertise. Their insights were invaluable in shaping the report’s findings and recommendations. I would also like to thank the Irish Research Council, now Research Ireland, for funding this work. Their support made it possible to foreground the voices of those working on the frontline of Ireland’s homelessness and mental health systems.”

The report concludes that meaningful reform must go beyond increased funding and instead reimagine how services are structured, accessed, and delivered. A coordinated, person-centred, and equity-driven approach is essential to ensuring that crisis mental health care is inclusive and effective for Ireland’s most marginalised populations.

The full report is now available for download here.