Category: News

PRESS RELEASE Minister McEntee launches Neart, the new programme of wellbeing and mental health supports in post-primary schools

Posted on by Ian Carey

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

School Refusal: Supporting a Young Person Facing School Difficulties

Posted on by Ian Carey

For many young people, school can be a mixed bag. Whether it’s the nuts and bolts of course work, exam pressure or social anxiety, bullying, or struggles with mental health, difficulties at school can lead to difficulties in getting your young person out the door in the morning.  

School refusal comes hand in hand with low self-esteem and distress and it can be tough to know how to help a young person who is unhappy in school.  

Understanding  

School refusal isn’t just about skipping classes or avoiding homework, it can be linked to issues such as anxiety or difficulties with learning. Some common signs include: 

  • Frequent complaints of headaches or stomach aches, especially on school days 
  • Sudden changes in mood or behaviour 
  • Avoiding school-related conversations 
  • Increased anxiety or distress when discussing school 
  • Declining school performance. 

Recognising early signs can help you intervene in a supportive way. 

How to Support a Young Person 

  • Listen Without Judgment 

A young person struggling with school needs to feel heard and understood. Try to create a safe space where they can express their feelings without fear of being dismissed or criticised . Use open-ended questions like, “Can you tell me what’s been difficult for you at school?” to encourage conversation and try to get them to be specific. 

  • Acknowledge Their Feelings 

It’s important to validate their emotions rather than downplay them. Saying things like, “I can see this is really hard for you” or “That sounds really stressful” can help them feel understood and supported. It can be hard for a parent or guardian to put themselves in the shoes of a young person, it’s important to show compassion for your young person. 

  • Work Together to Find Solutions 

Once you understand their concerns, collaborate on possible solutions. This might include: 

  • Talking to a teacher or school counsellor 
  • Exploring alternative learning options 
  • Setting small, achievable goals to help them re-engage with school 
  • Adjusting expectations to ease pressure. 
  • Encourage Healthy Routines 

A regular sleep schedule, balanced diet, and physical activity can help manage stress and anxiety. Encourage them to take breaks, get outside, and engage in activities they enjoy. 

Know When to Seek Help 

It can sometimes feel that we need to have all the answers for our children, but even on our best days we can’t do everything. Speak to the school and other parents who may be able to offer advice.  

If school difficulties are linked to mental health concerns, consider reaching out for additional support. Engage with your young persons school to find out what supports are available for them.  

Remember there is help out there- if you young person is struggling with their mental health, consider contacting their GP or Jigsaw. 

Moving Forward 

Supporting a young person through school difficulties takes time, patience, and understanding. Keep communication open, reassure them that they’re not alone, and remind them that with the right support, things can improve. 

What would ‘social media policy’ look like if young people had a say? We found out.

Posted on by Ian Carey

It sounds like such an obvious approach but sadly the voice of young people has been missing from the conversation.

Policies around access to social media, and less specifically ‘phones’, have been directed in Ireland by schools, big tech, and politicians.

Young people are at the centre of all this and deserve a voice in how policies around tech will impact their lives.

To start this conversation, Jigsaw last weekend brought together young people from around Ireland to explore these issues and prepare some recommendations for policymakers on social media and online safety.

David Kavanagh, Jigsaw’s Youth Voice & Engagement Manager, explains:
“On Saturday, we hosted the second session in our Youth Talk, We Listen Design Series 2025—a space where young people and decision-makers come together to shape the future of youth mental health.
“This session focused on social media and mental health, exploring the role services like Jigsaw should play, and what future policy and practice should look like. Youth Advocates from across the country took part, including guest designers from the four Dublin Comhairle na nÓg.
“We were lucky to have the event supported by Erasmus+ through Léargas, and to collaborate with The Brave Lab, who facilitated the session. Next, we’ll be co-authoring a position paper with young people to capture and amplify their insights. This paper will help us in Jigsaw better understand our stance in the area and articulate that within our local communities and nationally to the media and those in power.”

 

What was said? 

The insights from the session informed a submission from Jigsaw to a consultation of the Online Safety Commission. Here are some of the key points made by young people at the session:

  1. Young people want practical, developmentally approapriate education that goes beyond high risk activities such as cyberbullying. They want guidance on managingcomparison, navigating algorithm-driven content, setting boundaries, and understanding the emotional impact of social media. They want education that prepares, not scares — rooted in a harm reduction approach.
  2. They do not support blanket bans or rigid age restrictions. Instead, they favour phased access, informed parental support, and accountability for platforms.
  3. They want their rights respected and their voices included in how digital spaces are governed. Youth participation in policy development should be the norm, not the exception.
  4. They also highlighted that social media is not the sole cause of rising mental health difficulties. It can amplify distress, but deeper issues like inequality, climate anxiety, and academic pressure must not be overlooked.
  5. young people gave a clear call for more Irish-based, youth-led research. Young people want to help shape the evidence base — identifying both risks and what supports digital wellbeing.

PRESS RELEASE Important New Research Demonstrates Impact of Early Intervention on Youth Mental Health

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jigsaw is proud to share new findings from one of the largest studies to date on youth mental health service outcomes in Ireland, published in the Journal of Early Intervention in Psychiatry. The study provides compelling evidence that young people accessing Jigsaw services experience significant improvements in their mental health. These findings highlight the positive impacts experienced by young people attending Jigsaw services across Ireland and underscore the clinical staff ability to deliver tailored, meaningful therapy. This study also adds to the growing body of international evidence supporting the effectiveness of early intervention primary care youth mental health.

Key findings include:

  • Improvement Rates: Between 57% and 66% of young people showed reliable improvements in their mental health—outcomes that compare favourably with international standards and underline the effectiveness of timely mental health support. Most young people presented with moderate-to-moderate severe distress.
  • Timely Access: Delays exceeding 60 days reduced improvement rates by 11% among 12-16-year-olds, underscoring the urgent need for rapid access to care.
  • Supporting Those Most in Need: Young people experiencing the highest distress levels achieved the greatest improvements, highlighting the essential role Jigsaw plays in supporting those facing significant mental health challenges.
  • Personalised Care: More sessions did not always lead to better outcomes, reinforcing the importance of personalised, tailored therapeutic support based on individual needs.

What does this mean for Policy and Practice?

  • Invest in Early Intervention: Providing timely, high-quality mental health care not only leads to positive outcomes for young people but also helps reduce long-term societal and economic costs by addressing mental health issues early.
  • Focus on Personalised Support: Prioritise interventions tailored to individual needs, particularly for those experiencing greater distress, who are most likely to benefit significantly from targeted care.
  • Ensure Timely Access: Quick access to care is crucial. Providers should aim to keep wait times below 60 days, especially for 12–16-year-olds, to prevent delays from significantly impacting recovery.

“This study adds to the growing international evidence that early intervention works—especially when it’s timely, youth-focused, and tailored. The outcomes we’re seeing here in Ireland show just how impactful this approach can be when delivered at scale”.

“Jigsaw’s investment in a national electronic health record has been critical to building a data-driven culture—allowing us to generate real-time insights, track outcomes at scale, and continuously improve how we support young people’s mental health.”

Read the full study here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eip.13637

The Grand Tour 2025 campaign launches in aid of Jigsaw

Posted on by Ian Carey

This June, motorcycle enthusiasts from across Ireland will take on an incredible challenge—the Grand Tour, a 72-hour journey to visit all of Jigsaw’s hubs, raising vital funds and awareness for youth mental health.

Organised by Damian Sheridan and Daryl D’Art, the event runs from June 11th to 13th.  This incredible event wouldn’t be possible without the support of Joe Duffy BMW, with Carole Nash Ireland as key sponsors.

For Damian, this event is deeply personal: “Seeing first-hand how Jigsaw changes young lives has been incredible. A letter from a 12-year-old boy thanking Jigsaw for making his sister happy again has stuck with me. It showed just how much mental health support matters.”

Daryl shares that passion: “This event combines my love of motorcycle travel with supporting Jigsaw’s vital work. Providing free, local mental health support for young people is something worth riding for.”

The Grand Tour isn’t just about the ride—it’s about making a difference. By supporting this event, you’re helping Jigsaw continue its mission to be there for young people when they need it most.

To support the riders or get involved, visit The Grand Tour’s iDonate page.

PRESS RELEASE: Youth mental health needs in Ireland are rising, and those seeking help are in higher distress – Irish Researchers tell leading global conference

Posted on by Ian Carey

Researchers from Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, are presenting this week to a global gathering of researchers on youth mental health.

As part of this, Irish researchers presented insights from Jigsaw’s National Programme of Early Intervention Youth Mental Health from 2017 to 2022.

Some key findings include:

  1. Youth mental health needs are rising. Between 2017 and 2022 referrals to Jigsaw steadily increased.
  2. Young people who are seeking help are in higher distress. Anxiety remains the top reason for referrals, but overall distress is rising.

Jigsaw researchers are also presenting on effective strategies that make youth mental health care work at scale, how live chat services are reaching unique and critical groups, and how ‘peer-support’ helps young people and how to develop such services.

The 7th International Conference on Youth Mental Health is taking place in Vancouver, Canada this week and is organised by the International Association for Youth Mental Health (IAYMH).

Entitled ‘Turning the Tide: Creating a global blueprint for prevention and integrated care in Youth Mental Health’, the theme of the conference is to focus on the actions needed to halt the global trend of deteriorating youth mental health.

Dr Jeff Moore, Director of Research & Evaluation at Jigsaw said:

“Mental health accounts for 45% of the total disease burden for young people aged 10-24 and is the leading cause of disability for youth. Yet, despite overwhelming evidence, youth mental health remains chronically underfunded globally, neglected, and even denied in some circles.

“In 2019, the My World Study II UCD Youth Mental Health Lab & Jigsaw – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health found an alarming rise in anxiety and depression among young people in Ireland. In 2024, The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Youth Mental Health confirmed this trend on a global scale linking the decline to global mega-trends such as financial insecurity, climate change, unregulated social media, and rising loneliness.

“This week, global experts, policymakers, and—most importantly—young people themselves are gathering in Vancouver for IAYMH 2025: “Turning the Tide—Creating a Global Blueprint for Prevention and Integrated Care in Youth Mental Health.”

“But this isn’t just another conference. It’s a turning point.

“IAYMH isn’t about talking—it’s about action. It’s about shifting from crisis mode to prevention, from treating symptoms to addressing root causes, and from fragmented systems to truly integrated care that meets young people where they are.

“The conference will highlight the growing evidence for early intervention—reaching young people before crisis hits can change the trajectory of their lives.

“We’ve seen this before in healthcare. When it comes to heart disease, we don’t debate whether to focus on prevention or intervention—we do both. We promote exercise and healthy habits while also ensuring timely medical treatment. The same applies to cancer, where screening and early detection go hand in hand with advanced treatment options. Yet in mental health, we often find ourselves caught in the debate between prevention and intervention, as if they are opposing choices. The reality is, we need both. By identifying issues early and providing enhanced primary care for young people aged 12-25, we can prevent more severe and lasting problems down the road.

“So why, in mental health, do we still wait until young people are at breaking point?”

Notes to the Editor

Links to abstracts on Irish research and their sessions at IAYMH.

Barefoot fundraiser for Jigsaw in World Record bid

Posted on by Ian Carey

Most people would barely brave the kitchen in bare feet.

But for fundraiser Eamonn Keaveney it comes as second nature having already walked around Ireland entirely shoeless.

Now the Mayo native is taking on his greatest challenge to date – walking barefoot from Istanbul to his hometown of Claremorris.

He’s making the trip to break a World Record travelling 5,500km across Europe and to raise vital funds for Jigsaw and Friends of the Earth.

On his iDonate page he says:

“On March 4th 2025, I will set off from Istanbul, Turkey and walk all the way home to Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland – completely barefoot!

“I will be attempting to break the world record for the longest barefoot journey by walking over 5500km in my bare feet. I previously broke the record back in 2016 by walking over 2000km unshod around Ireland.

“This time I’ve chosen to fundraise for Jigsaw and Friends of the Earth. All funds raised here will go directly to these great causes, and any donation is much appreciated!”

Click here to visit his donation page.

You can also follow his adventures on this instagram page https://www.instagram.com/barefootacrosseurope/

Interested in running the Mini-Marathon? Sign up for Jigsaw

Posted on by Ian Carey

It’s an amazing event to be a part of. The VHI Women’s Mini Marathon is the largest women’s participatory event in the world and we are asking supporters to consider doing it in aid of Jigsaw.

Working with our partners in Incredible Socks and iDonate, we have just secured 20 places for this year’s event.  With its increasing popularity, it is expected to sell out faster than ever before.

How it works:

  • Secure your place now by paying a €50 deposit this counts towards your fundraising goal
  • You are asked to raise €200 on top of your deposit to support our vital work
  • You will get your own iDonate fundraising page to help you reach your goal
  • Once you reach €100 raised on your iDonate page we’ll send you your official race entry.
  • We will also send you your very own Team Jigsaw race pack, including a Jigsaw technical running T-shirt and a pair of Incredible Socks.

By signing up now, you’ll be guaranteed your place and will be joining our mini-marathon team raising vital funds and awareness to support our free therapy services and supports for young people, their families and communities across Ireland.

Places are limited, so act fast—sign up today!

Who’s Turning to Jigsaw? What Five Years of Data Tells Us About Youth Mental Health Support

Posted on by Ian Carey

Dr Jeff Moore, Director of Research Jigsaw

Data, Decisions, and the Bigger Picture 

Data tells stories. In healthcare, it helps us see patterns, understand trends, and figure out what’s working—and what needs to change. When it comes to youth mental health, this is more important than ever. 

Every young person who reaches out for support has their own unique story, and those individual experiences matter. At the same time, data allows us to step back and see the bigger picture—helping us understand who is accessing support, where gaps exist, and how we can improve services to meet growing demand. 

Young people today are facing huge challenges, and we know that most mental health difficulties start before the age of 25. That’s why early support is critical. But are young people getting the help they need? Who is reaching out for support? And once they do, what keeps them engaged—or causes them to drop out? 

Since 2006, Jigsaw has been offering free, accessible mental health support to 12- to 25-year-olds in Ireland. To get a clearer picture of how the service is being used, we dived into five years of data (2017-2022). Here’s what we found. 

More Young People Reaching Out 

Over these five years, nearly 29,000 young people sought support from Jigsaw. That’s a lot of young people looking for help, and the numbers kept growing. More referrals have come from family members, teachers, and GPs, showing that young people aren’t the only ones recognising the need for mental health support—those around them are stepping up too. 

One notable improvement is the increase in male referrals over time. While young women still make up the majority of referrals, we’ve seen a steady rise in young men seeking support, which is an encouraging shift. This suggests that awareness and accessibility efforts may be helping to break down some of the barriers traditionally preventing young men from engaging with mental health services. 

So, who’s the average Jigsaw user? They’re 16 years old, most likely female, and struggling with anxiety. Anxiety was by far the most common reason young people sought support, followed by low mood and stress. In fact, anxiety-related presentations increased significantly over the five years, reflecting wider concerns about youth mental health globally. But while demand was rising, so were wait times.  

One of the most worrying trends in our data is the rising levels pf distress and young people presenting with high risk of self-harm. While levels fluctuated between 2017 and early 2020, our data suggests that things took a sharp decline after the pandemic, with risk peaking between mid-2020 and 2022—right when lockdowns, school closures, and uncertainty were at their worst. Even though things have steadied somewhat, risk levels are still higher than before. Now more than ever, we need to ensure early intervention services are reaching those most at risk. 

 

Who’s Attending, and Who’s Dropping Out? Who’s Attending, and Who’s Dropping Out? 

Not everyone who reaches out for support stays engaged. On average, young people attended six sessions, but some came for just one, while others completed the full program. Gender played a role—young men were less likely to stick with it. Anxiety kept young people engaged, but severe distress, especially for 17- to 25-year-olds, made it harder to continue. Referral source mattered too—those referred by parents stayed engaged more than those referred by schools or GPs. Timing also played a part, with more young people starting therapy in January and September, but engagement dipping in June and December. 

Moving Forward: Strengthening Youth Mental Health Support 

Expand Access to Brief Interventions:
To meet increasing demand, we need continued investment in short, targeted interventions that provide immediate support while ensuring resources remain available for those who need longer-term care. 

Develop Tailored Engagement Strategies for Young Men:
With young men likely to attend fewer sessions we must rethink how services are delivered—offering less formal, more practical, and accessible formats that meet their unique needs. 

Strengthen Family and Community Involvement:
Since family referrals improve engagement, we should focus on empowering parents and caregivers with tools and knowledge to support their child’s mental health journey. Schools, youth organizations, and communities must also play a stronger role in early intervention.