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Celebrity Chef Mark Moriarty announced as M&S and Jigsaw Partnership Ambassador

Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, is delighted to welcome award-winning chef Mark Moriarty as ambassador for our ongoing partnership with Marks & Spencer Ireland.

Since 2022, M&S and Jigsaw have worked together to raise awareness and vital funds to support young people’s mental health across Ireland. So far, this partnership has raised over €150,000, helping us continue our mission to provide trusted mental health support and services to 1.5 million young people and their families by 2026.

A shared commitment to young people

Mark joins the partnership with a deep personal connection to mental health.
“I grew up in a family of mental health professionals,” he explains. “That meant we talked about wellbeing at home before it became a wider public conversation. I’ve always understood how important it is to talk, to listen, and to support one another.”

As ambassador, Mark hopes to use his platform to encourage more open conversations about mental health.
“Young people today face incredible pressures — from social media to inequality to a lack of support structures. Every single person will experience challenges in their life, and communication is key to getting through them. That’s where organisations like Jigsaw make a real difference.”

The power of communication

Mark says he was drawn to Jigsaw because of its practical, approachable way of supporting young people.
“For some, support can be as simple as having somebody listen to you. That’s what I love about Jigsaw’s work — whether it’s one-to-one chats, workshops, or mentoring, it’s about real connection, not perfection.”

Working together for change

Eddie Murphy, M&S Country Director Ireland and Northern Ireland said: “Our commitment to Jigsaw and the wellbeing of Ireland’s young people is unwavering, and we’re incredibly proud of the difference we’re making together,” 

For Jigsaw, the partnership with M&S continues to be an important part of building collective support for young people’s mental health.
Having someone like Mark involved brings energy and understanding to the conversation,” says Mike Mansfield, Jigsaw’s Director of Communications and Fundraising. “We know young people’s mental health continues to face huge pressures. Addressing that requires collective effort — from individuals, communities, and organisations. This partnership is one example of that effort in action.”

Talking About It: Young People in Meath Lead the Conversation on Mental Health

More than 50 young people from across County Meath came together this month for a special event called Talk About It — a day all about sharing ideas, experiences, and hopes for better youth mental health support.

Students and youth representatives from Kells Youthreach, Involve Meath, Dunboyne College, Cultúr Migrant Centre, and post-primary schools including Beaufort College, St. Patrick’s Classical, Mercy Secondary, and Boyne Community School took part. They were joined by more than 50 representatives from local organisations like CYPSC, TUSLA, HSE, LMETB, Youth Work Ireland, An Garda Síochána, Cultúr Migrant Centre, Springboard, Involve, Family Resource Centres, and others.

Taking place just a week before World Mental Health Day (October 10th), the event created a rare space where young people could speak directly with decision-makers and service providers about what’s really going on in their lives. It was a day of honest conversations, creative thinking, and powerful connection.

One young person summed it up simply:

“I felt heard.”

Another said:

“I was nervous at first, but they’re just real people like us. We had good chats and fun too.”

What young people are saying

The event, run by Jigsaw Meath in partnership with Comhairle na nÓg Meath, also shared findings from Jigsaw’s Amplify & Advocacy survey — research designed to understand what life is really like for young people in the county.

Some of the key insights included:

  • Many young people still don’t know what mental health services and supports are available locally.
  • Stigma — both internal (feeling embarrassed) and external (fear of being judged) — remains a major barrier to reaching out for help.
  • The cost of living and housing crises are having a real impact, with many young people living at home longer and separated parents struggling to find suitable accommodation.

Turning words into action: #WhatsYourWord

In response to what they heard, Jigsaw Meath is launching the #WhatsYourWord stigma reduction campaign. The campaign asks everyone — young people, parents, families, and communities — to share the What’s Your Word? video on Jigsaw Meath’s Instagram, and to create their own positive words that encourage open conversations about mental health.

The word stigma originally comes from the Greek for “to brand or mark.” This campaign flips that meaning — replacing the negative with the positive. Instead of shame or judgment, we’re inviting people to share words of kindness, strength, and hope.

Schools, clubs, workplaces, and community groups across Meath are encouraged to take part:

  • Watch and re-share the video.
  • Create your own word.
  • Start conversations where you live, learn, work, or play.

Follow this link to find the video on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPUDgqSD9kC/

Jigsaw Meath extended special thanks to Meath CYPSC (Children and Young People’s Services Committee) for funding both the Talk About It event and the #WhatsYourWord campaign.

The insights gathered from young people on the day will help shape both the CYPSC Plan and Jigsaw’s upcoming Strategic Plan (2027–2030) — ensuring that what young people said doesn’t just stay in the room, but leads to real change.

As organisers put it:

“This topic is too important to turn away from. Sharing one post, one word at a time, can become a powerful force for change.”

 

 

PRESS RELEASE Jigsaw welcomes new funding for youth mental health services as vital step towards nationwide support for young people

For Immediate Release

Jigsaw welcomes new funding for youth mental health services as vital step towards nationwide support for young people

Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, has today warmly welcomed the Government’s announcement of new investment to expand youth mental health services across Ireland in Budget 2026.

The Budget commitment includes funding for new Jigsaw hubs providing free, early intervention mental health support for young people aged 12 to 25.

Jigsaw has been allocated an additional €1.3 million in annual funding to support the development of new Jigsaw services. While full details are still to be confirmed, proposed locations include Co. Waterford (serving the Southeast) and Co. Clare, through additional resourcing of our Limerick team.

Joseph Duffy, CEO of Jigsaw, said:

“This is a really positive and important step. Expanding Jigsaw services means that more young people will be able to access support when they need it, in their own communities, without long waits or complex referral processes. I want to acknowledge the significant work of Minister Butler, the Department of Health and the HSE in supporting this expansion of Jigsaw’s youth mental health supports.

“We know from experience that early, local, and accessible mental health support can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. Every young person, no matter where they live, deserves that opportunity.”

“While this funding is hugely welcome, the reality is that youth mental health remains one of the biggest challenges facing our country. We must see today’s announcement as part of a sustainied and long-term investment in building a system that truly meets young people’s needs.”

Jigsaw currently operates 14 services nationwide, supporting young people aged 12 to 25 who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The organisation has long advocated for a truly national network of supports that make early help available to every young person in Ireland.

Jigsaw launches annual National Compliment Day 

To get the country sharing compliments, and supporting young people struggling with their mental health.

This National Compliment Day (this Thursday September 25th), Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, is again teaming up with Starbucks to help spread positivity and raise vital funds for young people’s mental health.

For 12 to 25-year-olds experiencing mental health challenges, Jigsaw provides free, confidential mental health support across Ireland. With demand for services growing, the charity is calling on the public to give more than words this September: share a compliment and make a donation to help a young person access support when they need it most.

“Something as simple as giving a compliment can have a ripple effect,” said Justin McDermott of Jigsaw“It not only lifts the person receiving it, but it boosts the wellbeing of the giver too. By taking part in National Compliment Day, you’re helping to spread kindness while funding life-changing support for young people.”

Why giving feels good – the science behind it

Research shows that giving to others isn’t just good for the community – it directly benefits our own wellbeing. Evidence highlights that:

  • Acts of kindness spark positive feelings: Neuroscience shows that cooperation and generosity activate reward centres in the brain, giving us an intrinsic sense of pleasure and satisfaction.
  • Helping others builds purpose and meaning: From volunteering to small gestures like saying thank you, giving strengthens our sense of belonging and self-worth, both of which are vital for mental health.
  • Kindness helps us live longer, healthier lives: Studies reveal that supporting others is linked to lower stress and even reduced mortality rates, showing that generosity is not just emotionally rewarding but physically beneficial too.

More than words

While compliments and small acts of kindness can give our wellbeing a boost, Jigsaw stresses that words alone cannot resolve mental health difficulties. For young people struggling with anxiety, low mood, or stress, professional support can make all the difference – and that is what donations to Jigsaw make possible.

How to get involved

On Thursday 25th September, and over the following weekend, visit any Starbucks store nationwide to donate to Jigsaw or you can donate online at www.jigsaw.ie/give. Every euro raised goes directly towards providing free, early-intervention mental health services for young people across Ireland.

“By giving a compliment to someone in your life that day, and by making a donation to Jigsaw, you’re doubling the good – for yourself, for the person you compliment, and for the thousands of young people who need Jigsaw’s support,” added Justin McDermott.

For more information, visit https://jigsaw.ie/.

M&S donate €150k to support youth mental health

Marks & Spencer Country Director Eddie Murphy has presented Jigsaw with a donation of €150,000 to help support the mental health of young people around Ireland.  

This week marked one year since Jigsaw and M&S entered into our exciting partnership.

Under the banner, ‘Together we’ve got this’, the partnership aims to raise capacity, reach, and accessibility of the help available to young people across Ireland struggling with their mental health through a series of fundraising and awareness initiatives.

The last 12 months have seen a range of initiatives across areas such as in-store fundraising, staff training and public awareness campaigns. With over e150k raised to date, the partnership is due to go from strength to strength over the next 2 years.

 

How to manage exam stress

Exam stress impacts everyone. Learning how to manage it is essential to success and well-being at school.

As part of Jigsaw’s new schools programme Neart, the team has produced a podcast which provides tips and advice on how to understand and manage the stress of exams for students and parents.

 

Listen here

 

In this episode, the Neart schools team talks to Dr. Kim Lombard from Jigsaw, Catríona Rodgers and Eoin Houlihan from the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, Áine Lynch from the National Parents Council, Joe Leonard, principal of Cross and Passion College in Kildare, and Cian and Katie from the National Comhairle na nÓg.

We discuss the impact exam stress has on young people and families, how parents can recognise when a young person is experiencing a worrying level of stress, some practical ways parents can support young people, and possible avenues of further support for both young people and their parents.

The Neart Youth Mental Health Podcast is brought to you by Jigsaw, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, and the Department of Education and the National Educational Psychological Service.

Information on the organisations and supports mentioned can be found here: Exam Stress Episode resource

A general list of supports for parents & guardians can be found here: Parent & Guardian Support List

To sign up for the Neart Parent newsletter and access further supports, register here: Neart Parent Registration

For more information on Neart visit www.jigsaw.ie/neart

 

Starbucks Easter donation drive

Starbucks are running an Easter Donation drive this weekend in aid of Jigsaw.

The coffee chain will be giving customers a chance to donate to Jigsaw and support free therapy for young people who need it.

Justin McDermott, Fundraising Manager at Jigsaw, explains:

“This Easter weekend our partners Starbucks Ireland are running a donation drive across all their outlets in Ireland to support our free therapy and support services for children and young people, aged 12-25.  So we are asking you to do these three things to support.

  1. Connect with your friends
  2. Grab a coffee in your local Starbucks 
  3. Donate to Jigsaw 

“You can also donate online to support this drive, to do so visit www.jigsaw.ie/GiveAtEaster“.

VHI Women’s Mini Marathon SOLD OUT!

We’re excited to share that over 40 amazing supporters have already signed up to take part in this year’s VHI Women’s Mini Marathon on Sunday, 1st June 2025, as part of our Run for Jigsaw campaign!

Run for Jigsaw is our national fundraising series supporting youth mental health, proudly sponsored by Incredible Socks. Together, we’re stepping up for young people across Ireland—and the Women’s Mini Marathon is one of the biggest highlights of the year.

The event is now completely sold out, but don’t panic—we’re working on securing more tickets, so stay tuned. We’ll share updates as soon as we can.

If you are interested in taking part in this event and would like to be put on our waiting list for a ticket, please email Steven at steven.short@Jigsaw.ie

A huge thank you to everyone who’s already joined Team Jigsaw. Your support means the world, and we can’t wait to cheer you on in June!

Visit Incredible Socks here – https://incrediblesocks.ie/collections/women

New training to support LGBTQ+ youth mental health

PRESS RELEASE

Youth organisations Jigsaw and Belong To co-created course for people working or volunteering with young people

Today national youth organisations Jigsaw – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health and Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland launched an updated training programme ‘Supporting the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People’.

The free online training has been created for adults who work or volunteer with young people in their communities to upskill in supporting LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health.

The two youth organisations originally came together in 2016 to develop a course for those who work or volunteer with young people. This is the second iteration of that course, updated to meet the current cultural environment and needs of LGBTQ+ youth.

The training takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete, and covers topics including:

  • Using appropriate language and terminology when supporting LGBTQ+ young people;
  • The current landscape of LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health;
  • The impact of the social determinants of health on LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health;
  • The impact of minority stress upon LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health; and
  • Practical strategies to help build resilience among LGBTQ+ young people.

Growing Mental Health Challenges for LGBTQI+ Youth

Recent research from Trinity College Dublin, Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland, which was published in 2024, highlights the significant mental health challenges experienced by LGBTQ+ youth in Ireland today.

The report revealed that, compared to the general youth population, LGBTQI+ young people experience:

  • Three times the level of severe and extremely severe symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression;
  • Twice the level of suicide ideation; and
  • Five times the level of suicide attempts.

Speaking about the course today, Dr Joseph Duffy (he/him), CEO at Jigsaw commented:

“People working and volunteering with youth have a huge opportunity to support them in a way that can really change lives. Being able to support young people through challenges being faced at a critical time in their development can have a huge and lasting impact. This training has been developed to provide anyone in this position with the knowledge and understanding to be able to support LGBTQ+ young people who we know need that support now.”

Also speaking was Moninne Griffith (she/her), CEO of Belong To who said:

“We’re very proud to be launching this updated training, and very conscious of the current environment in which we’re doing so with an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and a growing, coordinated attempt both internationally and here in Ireland to row back on LGBTQ+ rights. Young people see this and feel this. The findings of ‘Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland’ revealed last year are upsetting, but to those of us working to support LGBTQI+ people, unfortunately they are not surprising.

“This study demonstrates the harsh reality that depression, anxiety and stress have increased amongst LGBTQ+ youth since the first iteration of the same study in 2016. We hope that this study will be a resource for any person working or volunteering with young people to support them through challenges they are facing, at a time when they so clearly need that support.”

Minister McEntee launches Neart

PRESS RELEASE

Minister for Education, Helen McEntee TD, has launched Neart, the new national programme of mental health and wellbeing resources and training for post-primary schools. Neart is being delivered in a partnership between the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and Jigsaw – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health.

Neart – the Irish word for strength, provides learning opportunities that promote student mental health and wellbeing as well as mental health webinars and e-Learning courses for parents and school staff.

Minister McEntee welcomed the launch, saying:

“I am delighted to launch Neart – the new national programme of mental health and wellbeing resources and training for teachers, students and parents, in partnership with Jigsaw.  

“It has never been so important that children and student’s mental health is supported in our schools. Particularly with the impact of social media, it is vital that we support school communities around mental health to ensure that students are equipped to speak about their mental health and wellbeing. 

“While wellbeing supports have been in schools for some time, the needs of students and teachers are ever-evolving and so it is timely that we are add to these supports for our post-primary schools. 

“I want to thank everyone who worked on this initiative and crucially, I would encourage every post-primary school to register with the service and avail of the supports on offer, to help their students and teachers alike.” 

Welcoming the initiative, Dr Joseph Duffy, CEO of Jigsaw, said:

“Jigsaw is delighted and proud to have been selected to provide Neart, in collaboration with NEPS and the Department of Education. Through this programme, we are fully committed to providing everyone within the school community with the knowledge and confidence to speak about mental health and wellbeing, to challenge stigma and, collectively, to work together to create a positive, enriching, and protective environment for all.”  

The Department of Education believe that Jigsaw’s existing experience delivering initiatives supporting the mental health of young people across post-primary schools made them an exemplary partner in this initiative. Their work will complement the supports already available in schools that include: the provision of guidance counselling, the work of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), as well as the existing wellbeing programmes and initiatives including the Student Support Team structure.

Schools can sign up to the new service by logging on to https://jigsaw.ie/neart where they will find information and support for school leaders, school staff, for student support teams and for parents and guardians and to check out upcoming training and webinars on offer throughout 2025.

 Notes for editors: 

NEART | Classroom resources | Jigsaw.ie

Supports and programmes Jigsaw will provide:

Supports for students that will:

  • Enhance the capacity of Student Support Teams to actively seek and respond to the voice of young people in relation to wellbeing and mental health in schools
  • Provide learning opportunities for students that promote mental health and wellbeing

Support for parents will:

  • Enhance parent/carer involvement in wellbeing school initiatives and engagement in promoting wellbeing and mental health in the school community
  • Enhance Student Support Teams to actively seek and respond to the voice of parent/ guardian in relation to wellbeing and mental health in schools
  • Provide psychoeducation on the promotion of wellbeing/mental health for parents via webinars and e-Learning opportunities.

Supports for school staff will:

  • Build capacity of staff to promote whole school approaches to wellbeing and mental health awareness
  • Enhance training and support for Student Support Teams to raise awareness of positive mental health and wellbeing
  • Provide e-learning opportunities for staff on mental health and wellbeing promotion
  • Provide wellbeing and self-care webinars and eLearning courses for school staff
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