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Category: Information and resources

Fitting in at school

Posted on by Eve Donnelly

It can seem like everyone else has found their group and is fitting in at school. We can end up feeling very lonely and isolated when we don’t feel we fit in. 

If you feel like you don’t fit in, you’re not on your own. According to My World Survey 2, over one in five young people considered friends to be a source of stress. 39% of adolescents reported that they had experienced bullying at some point in their lives.

As we get older, we tend to spend much less time with family and more time with friends. For many young people, fitting in is really important. It seems that everybody wants to be popular. This can lead to social rivalry, competition and bullying, particularly in school.

When you feel like you don’t fit in, it can be an extremely tough experience. There are no easy answers, but some of the following may help.

Ask Jigsaw: Stress of college from home

Posted on by Eve Donnelly

Hi Jigsaw, 

I have just found out that all of my college lectures will be online. As a result, I will not be moving out. I’m very stressed and upset about this. I feel living with my family has resulted in the deterioration of my mental health. I can’t talk to my parents about it, as they are the source of this stress. Also I will very rarely see my friends. Any recommendations on managing this?

-Disa22 

Hi Disa22,  

College life will be very different this year. We’ve heard from many young people who are feeling disappointment, stress, and anger because they are missing out on experiences that everyone else took for granted.   

Gaming and mental health

Posted on by Eve Donnelly

Online gaming is a really popular activity that can be a healthy and enjoyable pastime.

There are many benefits to online gaming. It can be a way of connecting with others, making friends online and reducing isolation.

Gaming can be fun and a good distraction from current negative news and social media reports. It doesn’t have to be competitive, with many games encouraging teamwork. It can help develop problem solving skills and give us a sense of achievement.

However, for a small number of us, gaming can have a negative impact on mental health if we are not paying attention to how it affects us.

In this article you will find:

 

Starting college during a pandemic

Posted on by Eve Donnelly

Ross, 18, a Jigsaw volunteer from Offaly, talks about starting college this year.

Like any young person, or any person at all in Ireland in 2020, it’s safe to say life has been anything but normal since March. Going from “schools are closed for two weeks”, to finding out that the culmination of 12 years of schoolwork, the Leaving Cert, was now cancelled, was an emotional rollercoaster.

The relief from finally getting a concrete answer gave room to thinking more about college and my concerns about third-level education in the world’s current state.

 

Self-care course for teachers

Posted on by Eve Donnelly

This 45 minute online course will introduce teachers to the concept of self-care.

It covers the importance of self-care in the life of a teacher, and ways to ensure it is a part of their teaching. You will receive a certificate of completion once you finish the course.

Participants will:

  • Have a greater understanding of what self-care is
  • Have a greater understanding of the importance of self-care in their role as a teacher
  • Explore the challenges to supporting self-care practice
  • Be more aware of their own self-care needs
  • Be able to develop their own self-care plan.

 For those who work or volunteer with young people, this course is for you. Sign up to our eLearning portal.

Sign up now

Ask Jigsaw: Is Jigsaw right for me?

Posted on by Eve Donnelly

I was referred to Jigsaw lately but I’m worried my problem isnt big enough for the need of the 1:1 sessions. I dont feel the way I do all the time, so I dont really know if it’s for me?

I like the sound of it though, but at the same time I havent told anyone the full story of my mental health. I know my one of my parents have to be there first session initially, but do I have to speak about how I’m feeling with them there and how does that work with the video support? I just think they would worry a lot about it considering I’ve been hiding how I’m feeling for the past while.
Thank you!

-Orla

Hi Orla,

Thank you for your question. It’s one that a lot of young people wonder about, so it will help others thinking about accessing Jigsaw too.

Ask Jigsaw: Feeling empty and worthless

Posted on by Eve Donnelly

what do you do when you just feel so sad to a point that you can’t even cry anymore. you just feel so empty and worthless and it’s the middle of the night so you can’t talk to anyone about it. and even if u did try to talk to someone they wouldn’t fully understand how your feeling so it would b hard to tell them.

-rosie7765 ( )

Hi Rosie,

It sounds like things are very difficult for you at the moment. Everybody experiences sadness in different ways. Sometimes when we feel overwhelmed, we can feel a bit numb. That might be a reason that you feel you can’t cry anymore.

 

Ask Jigsaw: I feel like I may have ADHD

Posted on by Eve Donnelly

I have always had trouble concentrating in general, but no one noticed because i was quiet. I feel like I may have ADHD as I strongly relate to most of the behaviors. How do I subtly tell my parents and try to get help.

-JJ

Hi JJ,

It sounds like understanding your concentration difficulties is really important to you JJ. It’s great that you’re being proactive in finding out more, despite other’s not noticing the reality of your experience.

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