Jigsaw in Galway is currently in the process of moving to a new home. During the move, our commitment to providing services and support to young people in Galway remains the same.
Author: eve
Ask Jigsaw: Do I need parental consent?
I am a minor and I want to get professional help. but, in my current situation, I do not feel like I can go to my parents but I need parental consent to receive any form of treatment. Is there any way I’d be able to go about receiving treatment or counselling without my parents being involved or notified?
-a
Hi a,
Thanks for your question. We often hear from young people who feel that they can’t talk to their parents but are looking for support. So you are not on your own with this.
Webinar: Supporting young people struggling with mental health at school
We held the first instalment of a new series of webinars for parents on Monday, 19th October.
The theme of this webinar was supporting young people struggling with mental health at school. Jigsaw clinicians Jen and Linda gave a 20 minute presentation, followed by questions and answers from parents.
This webinar covers the following topics:
- School and young people’s mental health
- Changes since Covid
- When to be concerned
- Supporting a young person
You can view the full recording below.
Domestic violence and mental health
Over the lockdown restrictions, we were asked to stay at home where possible. This was really challenging if home was not somewhere safe.
Domestic violence can happen in any type of relationship, no matter what your age, gender or sexuality. It can also happen in any family, regardless of culture, status or financial situation.
If you have experienced domestic violence you are not alone. One study by the National Crime Council has shown 15% of women and 6% of men in Ireland have been subjected to domestic abuse.
Domestic violence is not your fault, and help is available. Both local and national services are still open and offering support, despite the pandemic.
In this article you will find:
Ask Jigsaw: Struggling to talk to people
Hello I am struggling to talk to many people such as aunts and uncles, grandparents, teachers, strangers etc. This causes me a lot of stress and makes me feel bad about myself. It’s very hard for me especially with COVID-19 because I can’t go see a physiologist about it. My mam found this website for me and I think it will really help with this. Thank you.
-Someone
Hi Someone,
Speaking to certain people can be difficult for a number of reasons. It certainly doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with you.
Talking to people we might not see often, or a person in authority like a teacher, is different to speaking to someone close. It’s natural to be a little worried that we might say the wrong thing, or not know what to say at all.
North Fingal Gardai doing fundraising challenge
Gardai from Balbriggan and the North Fingal community are coming together on Wednesday 2 December to aim to do over 300,000 steps in 24 hours to raise funds for Jigsaw.
Ask Jigsaw: Talking about self-harm
How do you open up to someone about self-harm? I’ve been contemplating telling my mam or sister for the past few days but I’m afraid they’ll think I’m stupid for turning to such a bad stress relief. I want to turn myself away for it.
I’ve been self harming for a few months now and no one has found out and it’s been great, but I’ve realised that in the end it’s not great and i need to tell someone. My anxiety is just getting worse and I can’t go through a full day without having 2-3 panic attacks. I just want to “get better”.
-emily
Ask Jigsaw: Dad hits me
Hi, I’m 17 year old girl. So I’m not really sure what to do, my dad hits me when he’s mad at me.
This has been going on for as long as I can remember I think originally when I was 7/8. He’s not an alcoholic or a drug addict, just when he gets mad at me for Doing something wrong it often results in me being dragged across the room by my hair, held by the back of my neck, hit in the face/arm and sometimes kicked and very often shouted at. But seeing as I don’t always obtain physical injuries (bruises ect) Is this something I should be worried about?
I tried telling my school a few years ago but once I told them I was scared something would happen to my dad and I pretended everything was fine. The problem is I love him but sometimes he says and does stuff (hitting etc) that are really hurtful. Chatting to him won’t work, as he’s stuck in his ways and my mum is on his side. I don’t know what to do
-Abcde
Hi Abcde,
Thank you for sharing your story with Ask Jigsaw. The first thing to say is that what is happening to you is not ok. It is never acceptable for an adult to hit or kick a young person. The fact that you may not have physical injuries does not make it ok. What you describe would be considered physical abuse. It is also important to say that it is not your fault.
Ask Jigsaw: I miss my friend
I feel like I’m soo lost with how may life is going. I don’t really do anything. Everyday feels like nothing, with me doing the constant cycle of getting up going to school and home to my room.
I don’t have any friends except this one person I met online that live across the country from me over lockdown. We used to FaceTime every night for like 2 months(it was something I looked forward too every day)
But I don’t know if they want to talk to me now that lockdown is over as I feel like I’m annoying or they have other friends they’d rather talk to(he’s a very outgoing and has lots of friends ) as it’s been 3months since we talked properly and I don’t want to seem weird asking to call again as I’m scared we’d have nothing to talk about anymore and he’d think I’m stupid calling with nothing to say as my talking skills aren’t the best.
He helped me during a really lonely and dark place and he doesn’t even know that him just talking to me about random things helped and I miss it a lot
-Red
Hi Red,
Losing an important friendship can change how we feel about everything, even the things that we previously enjoyed.
Ask Jigsaw: Self-harming in second lockdown
Hi, I’ve just started first year in college and I’m trying to study from home. I can’t see my friends or boyfriend anymore and I haven’t been able to make real friends yet in college due to being at home.
Despite this I thought that I was coping okay with the situation of another lockdown, but I have recently started self-harming again and I can’t really understand why, it just feels like something I need to do.
I don’t have a great track record of always understanding or even realising what I’m actually feeling. So I was wondering if you could help me please. I know that thing will end eventually and there will be a light at the end of the tunnel but knowing and really believing are different things.
-Niamh
Hi Niamh,
It is a difficult situation when, to protect our physical health, we can’t access some of things that help our mental health.