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PRESS RELEASE Jigsaw welcomes new funding for youth mental health services as vital step towards nationwide support for young people

Posted on by Ian Carey

For Immediate Release

Jigsaw welcomes new funding for youth mental health services as vital step towards nationwide support for young people

Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, has today warmly welcomed the Government’s announcement of new investment to expand youth mental health services across Ireland in Budget 2026.

The Budget commitment includes funding for new Jigsaw hubs providing free, early intervention mental health support for young people aged 12 to 25.

Jigsaw has been allocated an additional €1.3 million in annual funding to support the development of new Jigsaw services. While full details are still to be confirmed, proposed locations include Co. Waterford (serving the Southeast) and Co. Clare, through additional resourcing of our Limerick team.

Joseph Duffy, CEO of Jigsaw, said:

“This is a really positive and important step. Expanding Jigsaw services means that more young people will be able to access support when they need it, in their own communities, without long waits or complex referral processes. I want to acknowledge the significant work of Minister Butler, the Department of Health and the HSE in supporting this expansion of Jigsaw’s youth mental health supports.

“We know from experience that early, local, and accessible mental health support can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. Every young person, no matter where they live, deserves that opportunity.”

“While this funding is hugely welcome, the reality is that youth mental health remains one of the biggest challenges facing our country. We must see today’s announcement as part of a sustainied and long-term investment in building a system that truly meets young people’s needs.”

Jigsaw currently operates 14 services nationwide, supporting young people aged 12 to 25 who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The organisation has long advocated for a truly national network of supports that make early help available to every young person in Ireland.

Jigsaw launches annual National Compliment Day 

Posted on by Ian Carey

To get the country sharing compliments, and supporting young people struggling with their mental health.

This National Compliment Day (this Thursday September 25th), Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, is again teaming up with Starbucks to help spread positivity and raise vital funds for young people’s mental health.

For 12 to 25-year-olds experiencing mental health challenges, Jigsaw provides free, confidential mental health support across Ireland. With demand for services growing, the charity is calling on the public to give more than words this September: share a compliment and make a donation to help a young person access support when they need it most.

“Something as simple as giving a compliment can have a ripple effect,” said Justin McDermott of Jigsaw. “It not only lifts the person receiving it, but it boosts the wellbeing of the giver too. By taking part in National Compliment Day, you’re helping to spread kindness while funding life-changing support for young people.”

Why giving feels good – the science behind it

Research shows that giving to others isn’t just good for the community – it directly benefits our own wellbeing. Evidence highlights that:

  • Acts of kindness spark positive feelings: Neuroscience shows that cooperation and generosity activate reward centres in the brain, giving us an intrinsic sense of pleasure and satisfaction.
  • Helping others builds purpose and meaning: From volunteering to small gestures like saying thank you, giving strengthens our sense of belonging and self-worth, both of which are vital for mental health.
  • Kindness helps us live longer, healthier lives: Studies reveal that supporting others is linked to lower stress and even reduced mortality rates, showing that generosity is not just emotionally rewarding but physically beneficial too.

More than words

While compliments and small acts of kindness can give our wellbeing a boost, Jigsaw stresses that words alone cannot resolve mental health difficulties. For young people struggling with anxiety, low mood, or stress, professional support can make all the difference – and that is what donations to Jigsaw make possible.

How to get involved

On Thursday 25th September, and over the following weekend, visit any Starbucks store nationwide to donate to Jigsaw or you can donate online at www.jigsaw.ie/give. Every euro raised goes directly towards providing free, early-intervention mental health services for young people across Ireland.

“By giving a compliment to someone in your life that day, and by making a donation to Jigsaw, you’re doubling the good – for yourself, for the person you compliment, and for the thousands of young people who need Jigsaw’s support,” added Justin McDermott.

For more information, visit https://jigsaw.ie/.

Read Mór initiative

Posted on by Karl Hempton

This September, Jigsaw will be gifting free books to young people across Ireland, as part of the Culture Night festivities.

The initiative, called Read Mór, will see 30 books by Irish and Irish-based authors given out for free from selected Jigsaw services.

Read Mór in 2025 is a partnership between Jigsaw and the Arts Council and is aimed at encouraging young people to embrace reading.

Now in its fourth year, Read Mór was created to extend the spirit of Culture Night to those who may be unable to attend in-person events. The initiative champions Irish writing while recognising the proven benefits of reading for mental health, emotional wellbeing, and social connection.

This year, Read Mór events will take place in selected Jigsaw centres nationwide on Culture Night, giving young people across the country the opportunity to connect, explore books, and celebrate reading in a welcoming environment.

For us at Jigsaw, the Read Mór initiative offers an opportunity to allow young people to discover the mental health benefits of reading, which is sometimes referred to as bibliotherapy.

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