About us

APSI is a free and confidential service for residents of Co. Roscommon. We provide stepped-care, low intensity psychological interventions (Talking Therapy) in a Primary Care setting for adults with mild-to-moderate mental health difficulties.

Take a look at the published evidence relating to our service at the bottom of this page

Is APSI the right service for me?

APSI is suitable for people experiencing: stress, anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties, and low self-esteem. It is also suitable for those coping with physical illness, bereavement or caring for others. If unsure about attending it may be worth speaking with your GP.

If you feel you’re in crisis or unsafe and require immediate help please contact your GP or attend A&E. APSI is not a 24/7 crisis service.

APSI Mission Statement

To provide swift access to assessment and psychological support for those with mild to moderate psychological difficulties.

Over the last decade APSI has provided swift access to psychological support to over 1 in 10 adults living in county Roscommon (between 2013-2022 5,358 referrals received). When fully staffed it operates at 6 bases across county Roscommon and offers evidence-based intervention, within days of referral, which is free and local to where you live. It has won several awards and published over a dozen papers in scientific journals regarding its effectiveness.

The research evidence indicates that it works. Of those who complete a brief intervention with APSI, 67% with clinical rates of depression recover and 62% with clinical rates of anxiety recover. Satisfaction rate are high with 95% of responding service users reporting being ‘Satisfied’ or ‘Very Satisfied’ with their treatment. 91% of referrers to the service reported being ‘somewhat satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with treatment outcomes.

APSI supports for the broader provision of swiftly accessible, evidence-based Talking Therapies throughout Ireland as per the recommendations of “Sharing the Vision” (DOH, 2020).

The Published Evidence relating to the APSI
 (Access to Psychological Services Ireland) service (2009-2025)

What do GPs want from mental health services?

[Survey of GPs]
GPs report a reasonable level of confidence re: mental health, desire for further training and agreed referral guidelines, desire for greater access to and liaison with specialist services.
Irish Psychiatrist (2009) pgs. 42-44. Journal no longer in press.

A potential model for primary care mental health services in Ireland

[Narrative Literature Review – Sets out rationale for APSI-like service]
High levels of mental distress presenting at primary care. Strong evidence base for effectiveness (clinical and cost) of psychological intervention. Need for stepped-care model in primary care.
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 2010; 27(3): 152-156

Link to paper

Evaluation of a pilot primary care adult mental health practitioner -delivered service

[Service Evaluation – First year:  Pilot]
Results indicate clinically effective interventions, high levels of satisfaction, larger trial now required.
The Irish Psychologist, (2012), 38(11), 262-268.

Link to paper

Evaluation of a primary care adult mental health service: Year 2

[Service Evaluation –Second year: Pilot]
Clinically effective interventions, high levels of satisfaction from service users and GPs, stepped-care model indicated when seeking higher throughput.
Mental Health in Family Medicine 2013;10:53–9

Link to paper

Evaluating brief cognitive behavioural therapy within primary care

[Specific evaluation of bCBT as part of stepped-care]
Brief CBT is an effective treatment for mild-to-moderate mental health distress. Focussing on positive engagement with service users is vital.
Mental Health Review Journal Vol. 19 No. 3 2014, pp. 196-206

Link to paper

APSI: a proposed integrative model for suicide prevention

[APSI’s role in supporting suicide prevention]
Sets out how APSI could play a crucial role as part of a continuum of support in preventing suicide prevention.
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, June 2014, pp 1 – 10 

Link to paper

An evaluation of Access to Psychological Services Ireland: Year one outcomes

[Service Evaluation – First year: Funded]
APSI is highly accessible and Guided Self-help (GSH) and brief cognitive behavioural therapy (bCBT) significantly reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms in a mixed, naturalistic community setting.
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine (2016), 33, 225–233.

Link to paper

Service User Feedback on an Irish Primary Care Mental Health Service

[Service Evaluation – Service User Feedback]
High levels of service user satisfaction. Key Themes: Qualities of the Practitioner, Effectiveness of Treatment, Safe Environment, Speed of Access/No direct cost.
The Irish Psychologist (2017) Vol. 43, (6), 132-137.

Link to paper

An evaluation of an Irish Stepped-Care Assistant Psychologist delivered Psychological Service: APSI Yrs 2-3.

[Service Evaluation –Years 2-3: Funded]
bCBT and GSH produced statistically and clinically significant reductions in depressive and anxiety symptomatology. Mixed results for computerised CBT. APSI is a highly accessible stepped-care service.
Clinical Psychology Today (2019), Vol. (3) pgs 35-51.

Link to paper

A 360° evaluation of stepped-care psychotherapy: APSI yrs 4-5.

[Service Evaluation –Years 4-5: Funded]
APSI is a high accessible service, service users who complete an intervention demonstrate positive clinically significant and reliable change, service users report high levels of satisfaction (citing interpersonal qualities of therapist/individualisation of therapy to their needs) and referrers similarly report high levels of satisfaction (citing speed of response).
Mental Health Review Journal, (2020) Vol. 25 No. 2, pp. 127-138.

Link to paperOpen Access Link to paper

Brief psychological interventions in face-to-face and telehealth formats: a comparison of outcomes in a naturalistic setting

Comparing brief psychological intervention delivered face-to-face and delivered by video and phone (in the context of a pandemic). Clinical outcomes are approximately equivalent regardless of mode of delivery.
Mental Health Review Journal, (2023) Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 82-92.

Link to paperOpen Access Link to paper

Exploring the Benefits of Brief Psychological Intervention for Low Mood and Suicidality in an Irish Rural Primary Care Service

85% of those who reported depression and suicidality at assessment, reported no suicidal or self-harm ideation at discharge. Completing an intervention with APSI significantly reduces suicidality in those with low mood.
Mental Health Review Journal, (2025)
In Submission

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