Derek is the policy implementation lead for Ireland’s National Mental Health Services where he leads a team that is responsible for delivering Sharing the Vision, Ireland’s national mental health policy.
A sociology graduate, Derek has worked with the National Suicide Research Foundation, National Office for Suicide Prevention and National Mental Health Services. In between public sector roles, Derek embarked on a career change in collaboration with Australia’s ReachOut.com service when he led the establishment and operations of ReachOut in Ireland for over eight years.
This experience of working in digital mental health service provision has carried through to Derek’s current role in national mental health policy implementation and is reflected in a range of service developments currently supporting the Irish population. Online CBT, crisis text support and personalised signposting to support are all now embedded in public mental health in Ireland.
Derek has always maintained research interests and publications include the 2017 book chapter When health means illness: Analysing mental health discourses and practices in Ireland in “Reframing Health and Health policy in Ireland: a governmental analysis” (Manchester University press). Derek is passionate about promoting an understanding of the social determinants of mental health difficulties and the importance of social support and the use of digital platforms to amplify that support.
