Category: Videos
Loneliness and isolation
We are social creatures and need to feel we belong.
Being lonely is like being hungry or thirsty. It’s our bodies telling us we’re not getting the basic human need of social interaction. We’ve had a strange few years, and physical interaction can still relatively difficult and unfamiliar to us.
To help during this time this article covers:
- What is loneliness?
- What you can do if you feel lonely
- How to talk to yourself if you’re feeling lonely
What helps you manage exam stress?
Sixth year student Jen talks to college student Emmet about how she manages the stress of the Leaving Cert exams.
How do I recognise signs of anxiety?
Josh and Jen discuss how you can recognise the signs and symptoms of anxiety.
When is stress good and when is it bad?
Sinead, a Jigsaw Clinician, talks to Josh, one of our young volunteers about stress; when it can be good for us, and when it can become a problem.
Answering sleep questions with a Jigsaw Clinician
Jigsaw Clinician Deirdre answers frequently asked questions around sleep.
Looking back on 2020
Jigsaw volunteer Sinead from Galway looks back on her experience of the past year (2020).
The importance of rallying around young people
If you spend any time on Jigsaw.ie or our social channels, you’ll see plenty of references to One Good Adult.
One Good Adult
One Good Adult (OGA) refers to an adult who a young person can turn to if they are in need of support. The theme of One Good Adult emerged from the My World Survey, a national study of youth mental health. OGAs support young people in their life by listening to them, giving them time and space to open up and not judging them.
Nicole’s story: Support for anxiety
Originally reported by RTE, Nicole, who is a Jigsaw volunteer, was interviewed to discuss youth mental health in the context of her own life.
This conversation was sparked by the release of My World Survey 2, carried out by UCD in conjunction with Jigsaw, which surveyed more than 19,000 young people in Ireland.
Nicole’s story
Nicole began experiencing feelings of anxiety when she started secondary school. Nicole is 17 years old and is from Co Offaly.
“Anxiety is a big challenge. From secondary school it became a big part of my life … it feels like pressure, but like built up, or like panic. It’s hard to explain but its overwhelming,” she said.
Being around large crowds of people could ignite her feelings of anxiety.
Supporting a younger sibling during the pandemic
Alacoque, Jigsaw clinician, talks about how you can support a younger brother or sister during this difficult time.