Implementing care for physical and sexual health for youth accessing mental health services
Individuals with mental health difficulties (MHD) have a substantial reduction in life expectancy compared to the general population. It is increasingly recognised that mental health services need to improve physical healthcare as a priority. Sexual health, including consideration of high-risk sexual behaviours, medication side effects, and challenges in romantic relationships, is a further important but under-recognised aspect of overall health. We discuss some of the current issues relating to physical and sexual health, with a particular focus on youth with MHD and how we might implement holistic care in Ireland. Prioritising the resourcing of these issues could facilitate the implementation of a Shared Model of Care as recommended in Ireland's National Mental Health Policy, Sharing the Vision.
Authors
- Mary D Cannon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0910-299X)
- David M. McEvoy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7466-3681)
- Gary J Donohoe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3037-7426)
- Sara Burke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9419-1642)
- Brian Keogh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6349-486X)
- Olivia Longe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1072-7709)
- John Lyne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0686-8313)
- D. Cotter
- Colm Healy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7974-1861)
- Catherine Darker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1561-7076)
- K. O’Connor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0696-8576)
- Caroline Wilson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2553-4151)
- David Mongan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7931-9636)
- Michelle M. Doody
- Leona Ryan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2385-3439)
- E Harold Brown
- Colm McDonald
- Agnes Higgins
- Louise Doyle
- Rebecca Murphy
- Brian O’Donoghue
- Yulia Kartalova-O’Doherty
- Walter Cullen
- Shaakya Anand-Vembar
- Donal O’Keeffe
- Allyson J. Gallant
- Lorna Staines
Institutions
- University College Dublin (IE)
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (IE)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE)
- Trinity College Dublin (IE)
- University College Cork (IE)
- Orygen Youth Health (AU)
- Mental Health Ireland (IE)
- Claghorn Lesem Research Clinic (US)
- Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IE)
- Dublin City University (IE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine
- Published
- 2025-12-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2025.10156
- Primary Topic
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00