Saint John of God Hospital

24/07/2025

Couple and Family Therapy is a type of talk therapy that focuses on relationships—between partners, parents and children, siblings, or family groups.

It looks at how people communicate, how they respond to stress, and how patterns of interaction affect wellbeing.

The aim isn’t to assign blame, but to understand what’s happening in the relationship and explore ways of relating that feel more supportive or workable.

It can be helpful during times of conflict, change, or when mental health is affecting family life. You can hear from Senior Social Worker, Scott Hill, on what Couple and Family Therapy is here: https://youtu.be/9Y9sWyHtZmw?si=S8BPk0P5FPt_yAJt

22/07/2025

Your brain plays a role in everything from memory and mood to movement and connection.

To mark World Brain Day, we’re highlighting our Understanding Brain Health booklet. It was developed by members of our multidisciplinary team, including nurses, psychologists, pharmacists, social workers and occupational therapists.

The booklet looks at how the brain functions, what influences its health over time, and how small everyday actions can support long-term cognitive and emotional wellbeing.

It’s a useful starting point for anyone looking to better understand brain health, whether for themselves or someone they're supporting.

Read it here: https://www.stjohnofgodhospital.ie/information/resources/wellbeing/69-understanding-brain-health-brain-awareness-week-2025

Where listening creates hope Saint John of God Hospital is an independent acute psychiatric teaching hospital based in South County Dublin.

20/07/2025

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment for people who experience intense emotions.

It combines structured individual therapy, group skills training, and between-session coaching.

The DBT programme at St John of God University Hospital focuses on keys areas:
• Emotion regulation
• Distress tolerance
• Mindfulness
• Interpersonal effectiveness

Some of the resources used in our sessions are available for public use here:
https://www.stjohnofgodhospital.ie/services/outpatient-services/dialectical-behaviour-therapy

16/07/2025

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

In our Minding the Mind public lecture series, Senior Social Worker Scott Hill explored what healthy communication looks like in family relationships.

The session focused on practical ways to manage conflict, listen with intention, and reduce misunderstandings, especially in moments of stress or emotion.

When we approach family communication with curiosity rather than assumption, we create more space for connection, not just resolution.

Watch the full lecture at the link in our bio: https://youtu.be/FhXAB4P_LSI?si=cz0nDsFPhbo2P0TY

15/07/2025

Stress or Burnout? Know the difference.

Stress and burnout can look similar, but they require very different responses.
Our “Stress vs. Burnout” resource outlines how to:
• Recognise early warning signs
• Understand the impact on the body and mind
• Identify practical tools for recovery and prevention

It’s designed to support individuals navigating these challenges with clarity and confidence.
Read it here: https://www.stjohnofgodhospital.ie/information/resources/wellbeing/53-wellbeing-series-stress-vs-burnout

Where listening creates hope Saint John of God Hospital is an independent acute psychiatric teaching hospital based in South County Dublin.

04/07/2025

We are proud to see Aoife Carolan, Advanced Specialist Pharmacist at St John of God University Hospital, presenting newly developed guidelines on using metformin to help prevent antipsychotic-induced weight gain in the IPU Review.

Alongside Advanced Specialist Pharmacist, Caroline Hynes-Ryan, Aoife represented our pharmacy team as researchers on this important project, collaborating with St Vincent’s University Hospital, University College Dublin, international experts, and people with lived experience.

Developed as part of the PROGRESS research group led by Prof. Brian O’Donoghue at UCD, these guidelines provide clear, evidence-based recommendations to support clinicians and service users in managing a distressing side effects of this treatment.

This work reflects the group's commitment to advancing compassionate, patient-centred mental health care through research and collaboration.

03/07/2025

Scott Hill, Senior Social Worker and Systemic Family Therapist at St John of God University Hospital, shares how Couple and Family Therapy helps families strengthen relationships while navigating mental health difficulties.

The service offers a safe, structured space to work through challenges together, with the support of an experienced team.

To watch the whole video and learn more, click the link in our bio.

20/06/2025

This St John of God Week is a special one. For the first time, we celebrate it as a University Hospital.

Our new status reflects the same values we celebrate this week: hospitality, compassion and respect. It also marks our ongoing commitment to education, research and excellence in mental health care.

19/06/2025

The ability to manage strong emotions, navigate conflict, or stay grounded during distress can be learned.

The DBT Skills Group at St John of God UniversityHospital supports inpatients in developing these tools - but the core skills are also available as practical resources for anyone who may benefit.

Learn more:
stjohnofgodhospital.ie/services/outpatient-services/dialectical-behaviour-therapy

18/06/2025

Today, we continued to celebrate St John of God Week with a staff BBQ, a small way to say thank you to our teams for the care, kindness and respect they show every day.

Teddy’s Ice Cream Van arrived just in time for the sunshine, and it was great to see staff, patients and visitors enjoying some treats and sunshine.

Thank you to our Catering Team for making it all possible (and maybe even sorting the sunshine too) ☀️

16/06/2025

At St John of God University Hospital, the way we care is shaped by the values of hospitality, compassion and respect, values rooted in the legacy of our founder, Saint John of God.

Centuries ago, he extended care to those most in need with warmth, dignity and humanity. Today, we continue that tradition by creating a place where people feel safe, listened to, and supported in their recovery.

Hospitality means offering a genuine welcome.
Compassion means being present and kind.
Respect means honouring each person’s journey.

As we mark St John of God Week, we reflect on how these values continue to guide our work, not just in theory, but in practice, every day.

12/06/2025

Many people struggle with overwhelming emotions at some point in their lives. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) offers structured, practical strategies to support emotional resilience and clearer communication.

Our psychology team have made many of the core resources available on our website.

Browse them at the link in our bio.