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Category: Information and resources

Exercise, mental health and social distancing

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Exercise is good for our physical and mental health. It has been really important to look after all aspects of our health during the pandemic.

For some of us, the word exercise can be off putting. However, it simply means to be active. It doesn’t have to mean going to the gym or taking part in competitive team sports.

We can view exercise as any activity that gets our body moving, increases our heart rate and breathing. Read more about how exercise can impact mental health.

However we choose to be active, it’s really important we remember to follow the guidelines on social distancing.

Ask Jigsaw: Coping with Coronavirus health anxiety

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How to cope with health anxiety? I’m always such a hypochondriac, and I regularly experience bad anxiety over symptoms I convince myself I have. With Coronavirus rampant at the moment, I’m feeling worse than ever. I’m not sleeping and my mind is constantly on whether I’m coughing or if I’m feeling a bit warmer than usual. Honestly just feeling so scared and drained, I really don’t know how to cope :/

Hi,

You are not on your own with feeling anxious about Covid-19. It’s hard to switch off from the news and information about escalating rates of infection. It is natural to turn our attention to ourselves and our loved ones. We may worry about getting sick, particularly if we have previously been anxious about our health.

Ask Jigsaw: Scrolling for Coronavirus information

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I am finding it really difficult to stop scrolling on my phone cos I need information about what’s going on. I want to take a break, but I don’t want to miss out on any updates. Plus I want to stay in touch with my friends, but that can be drama too. Some of them are freaking out and some just think the whole thing is a joke and are going out anyway. I don’t know whether to just turn my phone off altogether or how do I limit it?

-Starfish

Hello Starfish,

A lot of young people joining the Jigsaw online group chat are also noticing a change in what they’re seeing on their phone, and how it’s affecting them. There is a direct link between the time we spend online and our mental health.

Watch: Realising it’s not just me

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Lauren is a 20 year old health and social care student from Clondalkin.

When her anger and anxiety started to impact on her life Lauren decided to go to a Jigsaw service for support. However, she worried what people around her would think. Once she started telling her family and friends about her mental health, Lauren realised ‘it’s not just me’. We all need help and support at different times. Here, Lauren talks about her experience of going to Jigsaw.

 

Ask Jigsaw: How do I know if I have an eating disorder?

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How do I know that I am developing an eating disorder and how should I explain it to my parents and therapist?

Hi there,

Noticing a change in our mental health can be a little frightening. It’s not unusual to seek a diagnosis for us to better understand what’s going on. If you have noticed a change in how you think about your body, or how you feel and/or act in relation to food, it’s important to explore this further. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have an eating disorder. Quite often, if we get the right support when we first notice these changes, we can prevent things from getting worse. In other cases, we might need to get a diagnosis to access a higher level of support. You can find out more about the development of eating disorders at Body Whys.

Webinar: My World Survey 2

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We recently ran a webinar for teachers, who have taken our online courses.

The webinar was based on the key findings from My World Survey 2, Ireland’s largest national youth mental health study, conducted by UCD School of Psychology and Jigsaw.

This is a recording of the webinar, where the team focused on the data from second level students. They also looked at the risk and protective factors linked to the mental health of adolescents in secondary level schools.

The recording is made up of a 30 minute presentation, followed by a question and answer session with all the participants.

Speakers

Professor Barbara Dooley, School of Psychology, UCD
Associate Professor Amanda Fitzgerald, School of Psychology, UCD
Dr. Aileen O’ Reilly, Research Manager, Jigsaw

Mental health services for under 18s

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It can be an overwhelming experience for a parent when your child is experiencing difficulties with their mental health.

There are many supports available to you and your son or daughter, but knowing what mental health services there are how and how to access them isn’t always easy.

Below we’ve listed some of the mental health services for under 18s in Ireland, how to access them, and costs. The service or organisation you go to depends on what your child is going through is considered mild, or more severe in nature. The first step to knowing this is going to your GP.