What’s happening to young people’s mental health? 

And why are so many struggling to cope?

 

We are living through a youth mental health crisis. It has been building slowly over the past two decades, but today its impact is unmistakable. From schools and homes to social media and community spaces, young people in Ireland and across the world are struggling, and too often, they’re struggling alone. 

 

So what’s changed? And why now?

 

A landmark global study published in The Lancet in 2024 found that mental health among young people has been declining, especially in high-income countries like Ireland. The study highlighted a range of contributing factors: rising academic pressure, the influence of social media, increased loneliness and isolation, climate anxiety, economic insecurity, and growing inequality. 

 

Closer to home, the My World Survey 2 — the largest ever study of youth mental health in Ireland — found that levels of anxiety, stress and low self-esteem increased significantly between adolescence and young adulthood. The research also identified a worrying fall in protective factors like optimism, life satisfaction and connectedness, with many young people reporting that they felt unsupported, unheard or unsure where to turn for help. 

 

Is it too late to turn things around?

 

No, but the science is clear: we must act early. Evidence consistently shows that intervening at the first signs of mental health difficulty can significantly reduce the risk of more serious problems developing. Young people need timely, accessible, youth-friendly services — not just when things reach crisis point, but at the very beginning of their mental health journey. 

 

That’s where Jigsaw comes in. Our services offer free early support in local communities across Ireland, giving young people a safe, non-judgemental space to talk, to be heard, and to find hope. 

 

Thanks to your support, we are there every day helping young people build their mental health and resilience. But demand is rising, and the need has never been greater. This is one of the biggest health and social challenges of our time. 

 

Together, we can respond. Together, we can change the story.

 

Need Support?

We at Jigsaw offer a range of supports for children and young people aged between 12 and 25 across Ireland, including online support and face to face therapy sessions.

For more information on our supports click here:

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Jigsaw, the charity dedicated to supporting youth mental health, is thrilled to announce that it has been selected as the charity partner to Start Solar, the leading renewable energy specialist.

This exciting two-year collaboration aims to raise awareness and funds to support the vital mental health services that Jigsaw provides.

In April, young people and professionals came together to highlight what we need to do to achieve better mental health and a sense of belonging for students in third-level education. Today the report on the findings of this event is being launched.

 

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT HERE

Jigsaw, the youth mental health charity, and HSE Mental Health and Wellbeing, co-hosted a roundtable event which gathered together university staff, national stakeholders and, most importantly, higher education students from across Ireland to talk through what is needed to support the mental health of higher education students.

Jigsaw and UCD School of Psychology’s My World Survey 1 and 2 found that 58% of higher education students were outside the normal range for depression and anxiety. The top three stressors students identified were college, finances and the future.

The discussion was an opportunity to share current good practice across colleges and universities, but also focused on gaps – what needs to be done to help? The discussions highlighted that students must be key partners and are central to any initiatives on student mental health. “As students we know what works best…Our message to you is to take on these findings, whilst being aware that plenty of students are keen to support and advise your projects” says Aisling Dillon, a Jigsaw Youth Advocate and university student, speaking at the launch of the report.

Participants emphasised that the success of student mental health promotion initiatives depends on a whole college approach, with all staff having a role to play alongside significant buy in from senior leadership.

Evidence shows that mental health needs to be addressed both inside and outside the lecture rooms, but for anything to have an impact, more resources are needed. National collaboration is key, and results should be shared across universities.

The Higher Education Authority will consider the recommendations of this report while keeping in mind the work being undertaken across the sector to support student and staff health and wellbeing. The report can be read in full at jigsaw.ie/roundtable