Limerick mental health intervention service has diverted 300 people to crisis team instead of into custody

Cast, a joint pilot by An Garda Síochána and the HSE Mid-West Mental Health Service, aims to redirect people suffering from a mental health crisis to the Cast team, instead of bringing them to a Garda station

Superintendent Andrew Lacey from Limerick's Henry Street Garda Station; Nuala Kelly, HSE Mid-West Mental Health Services; UL president Professor Shane Kilcommins; and Professor Owen Doody, UL School of Nursing and Midwifery at the launch of University of Limerick's report on the Community Access Support Team (CAST) pilot project. Picture: Alan Place

A pioneering Garda-HSE mental health intervention service piloted in Limerick has seen nearly 300 people diverted to a new crisis team in a "win for everyone", according to the senior garda overseeing the initiative.

Cast, a joint pilot by An Garda Síochána and the HSE Mid-West Mental Health Service, comprises Garda members, a clinical nurse specialist (mental health), a social worker, and a social care worker.