UCC SONM 25 Year Book

UCC / School of Nursing and Midwifery

Dr. Aine Horgan Chair of Engage and lecturer at UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Gerard Leavey Bamford Centre for Mental Health & Wellbeing, Ulster University and Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Primary Care, Social Care and Mental Health Kathleen Lynch Pictured at the launch of ENGAGE (INTERDISCIPLINARY CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH NETWORK) in University College Cork’s College of Medicine and Health, 2016.

The mental health app “OPPO” developed by Mr. Johnny Goodwin, UCC, in collaboration with Mr. John Cummins, HSE. It was launched in the School of Nursing and Midwifery by Minister Jim Daly and Professor Helen Whelton.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING

This research cluster aims to conduct national and international collaborative research that enhances the mental health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and families. We are particularly interested in young people’s mental health, e-health, addiction nursing, early onset dementia, practice development, recovery, and co-production. Examples: • COMMUNE – Evaluation of Co-production of Mental Health Nursing Education with Experts by Experience this Erasmus+ funded Commune project, aimed to co-produce a blended learning module entitled ‘exploring human distress with experts by experience’ between nursing academics and EBE’s across six countries (Ireland, Australia, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Iceland). Irish lead is Dr. Aine Horgan. • A new app developed with the guidance of people using mental health services in Cork; OPPO (which means companion or friend) is funded by Cork Kerry Community Healthcare mental health services, and aimed at people using mental health services in the North Lee area. The app was developed by Johnny Goodwin, and John Cummins. • ENGAGE (Interdisciplinary Clinical Mental Health Research Network) in University College Cork’s College of Medicine and Health. Dr. Aine Horgan, Chair of ENGAGE and lecturer at UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery states that “ENGAGE presents an exciting opportunity for the development of an intersectoral, interdisciplinary strategic partnership, to promote excellence in mental health research. It will provide a mechanism for the accelerated transfer of research evidence into practice and a forum to influence national research policy. The initiative is all about collaboration and inclusivity and we look forward to working with service users, community bodies and the general public in addressing how research can be generated, discussed and applied to address the key challenges in society related to mental health and wellbeing.”

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