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Author: Caoimhe O'Brien

Volunteer and Help Shape Mental Health Services

Posted on by Caoimhe O'Brien

Have you used mental health services? Or supported a child or young person who has?  

The HSE and Jigsaw are recruiting for two separate national advisory panels:  

  1. Child & Youth Mental Health Advisory Panel: For young people under 18 who have used mental health services themselves or have a close family member who has.
  1. Parent & Carer Advisory Panel: For parents and carers of children and young people with experience of mental health services.  

Both panels will work with the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Office to share ideas, influence decisions and help improve mental health services for children and young people across Ireland. 

What will I do?  

As a panel member, you may:  

✔ Take part in workshops and discussions
✔ Share your ideas and experiences of mental health services
✔ Review information, policies and resources
✔ Help improve mental health services
✔ Work alongside other panel members, Jigsaw and HSE staff to shape future services. 

What is involved?

Panel members will be asked to:  

✔ Commit to being part of the panel until December 2027
✔ Attend regular meetings from September 2026 to December 2027
✔ Join meetings online and attend some in-person meetings in Dublin
✔ Take part in optional workshops and project work throughout the programme.  

Travel expenses for in-person meetings will be covered, and you’ll receive ongoing support from Jigsaw and HSE staff throughout your time on the panel.

Why join?

✔ Have your voice heard
✔ Help improve mental health services on a national level
✔ Meet others with similar experiences
✔ Learn new skills and build confidence
✔ Make a real difference for children, young people and families across Ireland   

Find out more

Read our Child and Youth Panel Information Leaflet

Read our Parent and Carer Panel Information Leaflet


Ready to get involved?  

Applications are now open and will close at 5pm on 7 September 2026.  

Apply today! 

Join our Child and Youth Panel Application

Join our Parent and Carer Panel Application 

Neart Wellbeing Award 2025-27

Posted on by Caoimhe O'Brien

Neart are delighted to launch the Neart Wellbeing Award this September, to acknowledge the commitment of participating schools to mental health and wellbeing. Schools that sign up to participate in Neart, and meet the criteria required for the 2025-2026 Award, will receive the Neart Wellbeing Award to display on their digital and print materials. The Neart Wellbeing Award is endorsed by NAPD.

Find out how you can take part

Register your expression of interest

Neart – For parents and guardians

Posted on by Caoimhe O'Brien

The role of parents/guardians in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their children is crucial. The school’s relationship and partnership with parents/guardians is a central tenet of the whole school approach. The voice of parents can positively influence and support mental health and wellbeing in schools. Also, parents/guardians themselves will benefit greatly from increased knowledge and practical strategies to support their children’s mental health and wellbeing.

 

Mental health supports and events for parents/guardians

Neart will provide a range of supports for parents/guardians throughout the school year. Schools will be provided with an interactive toolkit to enhance parent/carer involvement and engagement in promoting wellbeing and mental health in the school setting.

Parents/guardians can sign up here to receive further information on upcoming podcasts and live webinars as they become available.

 

Links to existing mental health and wellbeing supports and resources for parents/guardians:

The Neart programme of supports, resources and training is designed to complement the existing supports provided by NEPS and the Department of Education & Youth. Please follow the relevant links below to access these resources and supports.

 

Department of Education & Youth resources:

  • Wellbeing in Education (this site provides access to a wide range of wellbeing information and supports for schools, students and parents.

 

NEPS resources:

 

Jigsaw.ie resources:

Neart – For student support teams

Posted on by Caoimhe O'Brien

The work of the Student Support Team is a critical student support system and central to ensuring that schools adopt a whole school, multi–component, preventative approach to wellbeing promotion. The role of the Student Support Team is to progress actions for the welfare and wellbeing of all students. It is a mechanism through which many of the existing student supports are coordinated and planned. Building on the work already provided by NEPS, Neart provides a range of clinician led masterclass webinars, resources and supports to further build the capacity of Student Support Teams.

Neart – For school staff

Posted on by Caoimhe O'Brien

Mental health and wellbeing in school is everybody’s business. The relationship that school staff develop with students is a key influence on wellbeing development. Your role as someone who can guide and support students and/or teach about wellbeing in the classroom is central to supporting student mental health and wellbeing. Of course, your own wellbeing and self-care is also an essential element of a whole-school approach.

Sign up here to receive information as these supports are released.

 

Neart – For school leaders

Posted on by Caoimhe O'Brien

As a school leader, you know that young people learn more effectively and have better academic outcomes if they are happy in their work, believe in themselves and feel acknowledged and supported in their schools. No doubt your school has already developed innovative approaches to mental health and wellbeing promotion. Your role is critical in encouraging and facilitating your whole school community to engage with the Neart programme of supports. 

Sign up here to receive information as these supports are released.

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