UCC School of Nursing and Midwifery Annual Report 2019

Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC

OPPO: Launching a Mental Health App built on the recommendations of Service Users

On the 8th February, 2019, the mental health app “OPPO” was launched in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC, by Mr Jim Daly, Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Mental Health and Older People. Also in attendance at this event were Professor Helen Whelton, Head of the College of Medicine and Health, UCC; Professor Josephine Hegarty, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC; and Ms Sinead Glennon, Head of Mental Health Services, Cork/Kerry. OPPO was developed by Mr Johnny Goodwin, undergraduate programme lead for B.Sc. mental health nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC, and Mr John Cummins, Clinical Nurse Manager, HSE. OPPO was built based on the recommendations of mental health service users, who were interviewed about their service use experience, and how this could be enhanced through the use of a smartphone app. Ms Glennon paid tribute to the developers of OPPO: “In Mental Health Services, we continually strive to keep the person at the heart of everything we do. Not only has this app has been developed in the spirit of person-centredness, but it also enables people using our services to be empowered and informed”.

Little Island Business Association (2019). A new app developed with the guidance of people using mental health services in Cork was launched today. Little Island Business Association. February 8th 2019. [online]. Ryan, N. A. (2019). Mental health app to be launched in Cork. Cork Independent. February 8th 2019. [online]. Available at: www. corkindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2019/02/08/4169090- mental-health-app-to-be-launched-in-cork

HIGHLIGHTS

OPPO is designed based on the recommendations of mental health service users for mental health service users OPPO can be downloaded for iPhone (search app store for “OPPO UCC”) and Android (https://oppo.irish/download/)

The Team: Mr Johnny Goodwin (lead researcher), Mr John Cummins (HSE), Dr Laura Behan, Dr Sinead O’Brien

Further Website details: Business Island (2019). A new app developed with the guidance of people using mental health services in Cork was launched today. Business Island. February 8th 2019. [online]. Available at: http://businessisland.ie/a-new-app- developed-with-the-guidance-of-people-using-mental-health- services-in-cork-was-launched-today/

Irish Examiner (2019). App to help people’s mental health needs. Irish Examiner. February 15th 2019.

Back row: Professor Josephine Hegarty, Minister Jim Daly, Professor Helen Whelton. Front row: Mr John Cummins, Mr Johnny Goodwin.

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