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Dr. Michael Brennan
Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Nursing & Midwifery

Biography

Dr. Michael Brennan PhD, RPN, RNT, M Ed, Dip in Addiction Studies, Dip Social Studies. Michael is a registered psychiatric nurse (1992), and nurse tutor (2003) currently, Michael lecturers in the School of Nursing and Midwifery Trinity College Dublin. He started his lecturing career as a lecturer/practitioner in 2004 in a joint post also with Trinity College Dublin and the National Forensic Mental Health Service. Michael is the Course Coordinator for a Masters/Postgraduate Diploma/Cert in Mental Health(CAFMHS & PSI). This is the first multi/interdisciplinary programme of its kind in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. He is also the Course Coordinator for a Masters/Postgraduate Diploma/Cert (Online) in Dementia. He is currently a member of the Research Ethics Committee in the Centre of Health Policy and Management at Trinity College. He was a member of the advisory sub-group, A Vision for Change, Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy. He organised and coordinated the First Annual Conference titled; Evidence Based Mental Health Services for Ireland held on the 6th of December 2006 at Trinity College, Dublin 2.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Keogh B, Brennan M, Doyle L, Higgins A, Holme I, Morrissey J, Accessing Recovery within the Prison Environment: An Evaluation of a Peer Mentorship Programme , 6th European Conference on Mental Health (ECMH), Berlin , 4th - 6th October , 2017 Oral Presentation, 2017

Brennan, M., Mental Illness in the Garda Station - Interview Challenges ., The Right to Legal Assistance in Police Interviews, Presidents' Hall, Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, 22nd September 2017, 2017 Conference Paper, 2017

Higgins, A., Doyle, L., Downes, C., Morrissey, J., Costello, P.,Brennan, M & Nash, M., There is more to risk and safety planning than dramatic risks: mental health nurses' risk assessment and safety management practice., International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 25, (2), 2016, p159 - 170 Journal Article, 2016 DOI

Mjo A., Rani Shetty, S. & Brennan. M., "Catch-22 Situation/ Tight-Rope Walk": Community Multidisciplinary Team Members' Experiences of Supporting Conditionally Discharged Forensic Mental Health Service Users., IIMHN/ENTER Conference , Trinity College Dublin,, 4th and 5th June, 2015 Conference Paper, 2015

Higgins, A., Doyle, L., Downes, C., Nash, M., Morrissey, J., Brennan, M. & Costello, P., Exploring practices, policies and processes around risk and safety management within mental health nursing services. Dublin: School of Nursing and Midwifery Trinity College Dublin., 2015 Report, 2015

Brennan, M. , Mental Health Practice - a primary care perspective. , 21st Anniversary Conference , Hilton Hotel Kilmainham Dublin , 3rd October, edited by National Association for Pastoral Counselling and Psychotherapy (NAPCP) , 2015 Conference Paper, 2015

Daly L., Brennan M., Fahey-McCarthy E, McCabe C., Transitioning from the physical to the virtual learning environment: Learning from experience on a postgraduate dementia education programme, International Dementia Conference, Vox Birmingham, 3-4 November, 2015 Poster, 2015

Higgins, A., Doyle, L., Downes, C., Nash, M., Morrissey, J., Brennan, M. & Costello, P., 'Exploring practices, policies and processes around risk and safety management within mental health nursing services (SMARTER Nursing study)., '5th International Nursing and Midwifery Conference, ,, NUIG Galway, March, 2015 Conference Paper, 2015

Brennan D. & Brennan M., From Asylums to Hospitals to Prisons: Mental Illness in Ireland, Shifting Locations of Intervention, 19th International Network for Psychiatric Nursing Research Conference , Warwick Arts Centre, the University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL United Kingdom , 5th -6th September , 2013 Conference Paper, 2013

Damien Brennan, Brennan, M. & Rogan M.,, Mind the Gap: Mental Health and Prison Policy in Ireland, North-South Criminology Conference, University College Cork, 20-21 May,, 2013 Conference Paper, 2013

Rani. S, Brennan, M & Timmons D, Clinical Learning Environment in a Specialist Forensic Mental Health Setting: Perception of Irish Student Nurses., AISHE-J , 3, (2), 2011, p17 Journal Article, 2011

Rani S., Brennan M. and Timmons D., Development of a Leadership Role in a Secure. Environment, Journal of Forensic Nursing, 6, (2,), 2010, p96 - 103 Journal Article, 2010 DOI

Brennan. M, Brennan D. and Kennedy H, G. , Experiences of Mentally Disordered Offenders Regarding Mental Health Services Utilisation Prior to Incarceration, 11th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference, Trinity College Dublin, 4th and 5th Nov , 2010 Meeting Abstract, 2010

Brennan. M, Brennan D, Pathways to Mental Health Care - Methodological Considerations, The 6th Mixed Methods International Conference, The School of Healthcare, University of Leeds and Department of Health, Behaviour, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Baltimore USA, 2010 Meeting Abstract, 2010

Rani S., Brennan M. and Timmons D., Development of Clinical Leadership in Secure Environments,, 9th Annual Conference of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND, June 24-26, 2009 Meeting Abstract, 2009

Rani S., Brennan M. and Timmons D., Undergraduate Student Psychiatric Nurses' Perception of the Clinical Learning Environment in a Forensic Setting, , 9th Annual Conference of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services,, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND,, June 24-26, , 2009 Meeting Abstract, 2009

Brennan. M, , An Exploration of a Model of Pathways to Care - A Review of the Literature,, 7th Annual NDA Disability Research Conference., Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin , 13th Oct. , 2008 Meeting Abstract, 2008

Brennan. M, , Nurses & Midwifes Developing Practice and Quality- The Lecturer- Practitioner in Forensic Mental Health. , NCNM Review/Autumn, (Winter issue 30.), 2008 Journal Article, 2008

Brennan. M,, A Systematic Review Of The Literature On The Pathways To Care For People With Mental Health Problems Who Have Offended And The Quality Of Mental Health Care Provided In Prisons., 9th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference, Trinity College Dublin, , 5th-7th Nov, 2008 Meeting Abstract, 2008

Rani S., Brennan M. and Timmons D. , Clinical Learning Environment in a specialist forensic setting, 9th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference, Trinity College Dublin, 5th-7th Nov, 2008 Meeting Abstract, 2008

Brennan Michael, An Evaluation of the Perceived Education and Training Needs of Nursing and Care Officer staff working in the Central Mental Hospital, Dublin. , Journal of Forensic Nursing, 2, (Winter edition), 2006, p175 - 184 Journal Article, 2006 URL

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

Doyle, L., Keogh, B., Morrissey, J., Holme, I., Brennan, M. & Higgins, A. , Promoting Our Wellness and Recovery (POWER) Peer Prisoner Mentoring Evaluation Study., Trinity College Dublin, 2017, p1 - 100 Report, 2017 TARA - Full Text

Research Expertise

Projects

  • Title
    • Pathways to Mental Health Care of People with Mental Health Problems within the Irish Criminal Justice System CJS
  • Summary
    • This research identifies the many barriers that Irish prisoners encountered when accessing and maintaining links with mental health services prior to incarceration. These are: lack of recognition of mental illness by participants and health professionals, limited referral options, over-reliance on pharmacological interventions to manage mental health problems, stigma, lack of or breakdown of social supports, and limited professional supports within the community. Combinations of these barriers with individual circumstances are shown to be important predisposing factors for future involvement with the criminal justice system. This research makes several assertions. Firstly, the CJS is increasingly becoming a pathway to accessing mental health care. This claim is strongly supported by participants' level of disengagement with mental health services prior to incarceration revealed by this study. Secondly, mentally disordered offenders are gradually becoming re-institutionalised within the Irish criminal justice system. This finding demonstrates that the WHO's prediction within the Trencín statement that prisons 'will' become twenty-first century asylums (WHO 2007, p. 5) has in fact happened. Thirdly a noteworthy contention of this research involves the process of re-integration with the community following a period of incarceration. This research reveals that the process of re-integration is complicated by participants' lack of confidence in mental health services in the community as well as their conviction that they feel extremely stigmatised by society and health professionals following previous involvement with the CJS. A pragmatic exploratory sequential mixed methods design was utilised for this study. It was conducted in two phases. The first used a qualitative design. This was followed by a quantitative phase which used an adapted version of the Pathways Encounter Form.
  • Funding Agency
    • The University of Dublin Trintiy College
  • Date From
    • 2007
  • Date To
    • 2012
  • Title
    • Exploring practices, policies and processes around risk and safety management within mental health nursing services (SMARTER Nursing study)
  • Summary
    • Higgins, A. Doyle, L., Nash, M., Brennan, M. Costello, P. & Morrisey, J.
  • Funding Agency
    • HSE and NPMDU
  • Date From
    • September 2013
  • Date To
    • May 2015
  • Title
    • Young adults in the criminal justice system
  • Summary
    • This project set to conduct a broad literature search initially. This will be undertaken as part of a larger systematic review of the literature to focus on current mental health provision for young people in contact with the criminal justice system and out to describe international best practice. It concludes by formulates evidence-based policy recommendations.
  • Funding Agency
    • Irish Prison Reform Trust
  • Date From
    • December 2015
  • Date To
    • February 2016
  • Title
    • An evaluation of POWER (promoting our own wellness and promoting recovery): A peer prisoner mentoring programme.
  • Summary
    • Doyle, L (PI), Higgins, A., Keogh, B., Brennan, M. & Morrissey, J.
  • Funding Agency
    • Suicide or Survive
  • Date From
    • February 2015
  • Date To
    • October 2016
  • Title
    • Strenco - Strengthening multi-professional competencies in mental health in an international context, through co-production with academics, students, service users and professionals.
  • Summary
    • Monahan, M (PI)., Morrissey, J., Higgins, A., Noctor, C. & Brennan, M.
  • Funding Agency
    • HEA
  • Date From
    • 2017
  • Date To
    • 2020

Keywords

Addiction and substance abuse; criminal law and criminology, ; discrimination and marginalization; equality issues for mental health service users; Forensic mental health issues; Forensic Nursing ; Health status and inequalities; Inter/Multidisciplinary Education; Mental health nursing; Service needs analysis for mentally disordered offenders; Sociological influences on health; Transformative theories in Research

Recognition

Memberships

Registered Nurse Tutor An Bord Altranais 2002

Registered Psychiatric Nurse An Bord Altranais 1992