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Month: December 2025

New Video: How EQUICARES is shaping equitable mental healthcare across Europe

Posted on by Ian Carey

We’re delighted to share the release of the official promotional video from the EQUICARES project, a major European research initiative that Jigsaw is proud to be part of. This video brings to life the vision, ambition, and impact of EQUICARES, highlighting our shared commitment to improving access to mental healthcare for people in vulnerable situations across Europe.

What Is EQUICARES?

EQUICARES is a four-year Horizon Europe project dedicated to making mental health and care services more accessible, inclusive, and equitable, especially for people who face persistent barriers to support.

The project brings together 18 partners from 9 countries, spanning research organisations, service providers, public authorities and advocacy groups, all working together to:

  • Understand barriers to mental healthcare access for vulnerable groups (including young people, migrants, older people, LGBTQI+ communities, people with disabilities, and those experiencing social or economic disadvantage).

  • Pilot innovative solutions co-designed with communities through grassroots “Smart Health Labs” in eight regions across seven countries.

  • Use cutting-edge methods like digital ethnography, advanced frameworks, and an AI-based Assistant to support mental health literacy, inclusion and digital skills.

  • Support policy change through evidence, cost analysis and tools like the Inclusive Mental Health & Care Policy Dashboard and an Atlas of innovative solutions for policymakers.

The promotional video gives a clear introduction to why this work matters and how it’s unfolding, from research to real-world impact.

Jigsaw’s Role in EQUICARES

Jigsaw’s Research & Evaluation team plays a central part in EQUICARES, bringing our expertise in mental health research, health systems evaluation and data analysis to a Europe-wide effort to understand how vulnerable populations experience care.

As part of the project:

  • We’re co-designing data collection tools and contributing to analytical frameworks that map barriers, enablements and opportunities across different contexts.

  • Our team led a dedicated Cultural Mediator and Research Team Training workshop to strengthen partners’ capacity to conduct ethical, inclusive, and culturally sensitive data collection and engagement with vulnerable groups.

  • We are actively involved in project steering and knowledge exchange, helping ensure that EQUICARES’ research approaches are ethically robust, evidence-based and informed by real lived experiences.

 

 

Perigord Group launch Jigsaw charity partnership with a staff bake sale and Christmas jumper fundraiser

Posted on by Ian Carey

Pictured left to right: Left to Right: Mike Mansfield Jigsaw, Teresa Howes Jigsaw Dublin 15, Lorraine Halpin Jigsaw Dublin 15 Heather Graham Perigord Group, David Graham Perigord Group, Evgeniya Kuznietsova Jigsaw Dublin 15, Justin McDermott Jigsaw.

The Perigord Group kicks off its new charity partnership with Jigsaw, by holding a Staff Christmas Jumper Day.

As a leading packaging, printing and communications company headquartered in Dublin 15, Perigord Group proudly support Jigsaw’s vital work. Jigsaw delivers free mental-health support and services to young people aged 12-25 in Dublin 15 and across Ireland.

“We recognise the importance of supporting Jigsaws young people’s mental health therapy and support services in our local community and across Ireland. This time of year challenges young people, so it is all the more important they have the support they need through services like Jigsaw,” said Heather Graham of Perigord Group.

Jigsaw’s mission is to ensure that every young person’s mental health is valued and supported. Jigsaw offers free therapy for children and young people (aged 12-25) struggling with their mental health. As well as supports to schools, sports clubs, workplaces and the wider community through mental health promotion.

All proceeds from the Perigord Group partnership fundraising will go directly to Jigsaw to support their ongoing mental-health services.

Justin McDermott, Fundraising Manager at Jigsaw, welcomed the partnership, saying:
“We’re delighted to have Perigord Group come on board. Their support helps young people access the mental-health support they need, when they need it. It’s inspiring to see organisations like Perigord rally their staff behind a cause that impacts so many.”

 

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska Visits Jigsaw Service in Dublin’s North Inner City

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jigsaw, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, welcomed the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, to its service in Summerhill, Dublin 1, during an official visit to Ireland with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The First Lady visited Jigsaw to learn more about how Ireland supports the mental health and wellbeing of young people, particularly through accessible, early-intervention, community-based services. The visit forms part of her wider humanitarian mission to develop strengthened youth mental health supports in Ukraine.

During her time at Jigsaw Summerhill, Mrs Zelenska met members of the Jigsaw leadership and board, youth advocates and local service users, who shared their experiences of supporting young people’s mental health challenges and the importance of timely intervention.

Speaking after the visit, Dr Joseph Duffy, CEO of Jigsaw, said:

“We were honoured to welcome the First Lady to our service today. Her deep commitment to the wellbeing of young people, particularly in the context of the profound challenges facing Ukrainian families, is inspiring.

“At Jigsaw, we believe that every young person deserves support that is early, accessible, and grounded in their community. We were proud to share our model, our approach, and, most of all, how the voices of young people shape what we do.

“We stand ready to collaborate and share our learnings with colleagues in Ukraine and internationally, in the hope that our experience can contribute in some small way to supporting young people living through extraordinarily difficult times.

“It was crystal clear to everyone in the room that the issue of youth mental health and wellbeing is of utmost important to the First Lady.”

Mrs Zelenska expressed appreciation for the opportunity to see the Irish model in practice and discussed her ambition to expand youth-focused mental health infrastructure across Ukraine, particularly as young people navigate trauma, displacement, and ongoing uncertainty.

The visit underscores growing international recognition of Ireland’s youth mental health approach and highlights Jigsaw’s role as a leader in early-intervention mental health support.

Jigsaw Youth Advocate and board member Sarah Whelan said:

“It was a fantastic opportunity to speak to the First Lady of Ukraine about the fantastic work Jigsaw does. Jigsaw places youth voice central to the work that is done at all levels, I look forward to watching the foundation grow – and partnering with young people in Ukraine in the future.”

Through the work of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, the First Lady shares many of Jigsaw’s values and today’s visit focussed on learning, information sharing and collaboration. Areas of discussions included emerging global models of primary care youth mental health, clinical staff and governance, funding models and evolution, youth and community engagement, school supports and more.

The visit comes as plans continue to roll out ‘Youth Spaces 12-21’, a Olena Zelenka Foundation initiative in Ukraine, aimed at creating spaces that combine individual and group psychological assistance, career counselling, leisure-time activities across the Ukraine.

 

 

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

 

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