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Schools must be empowered as frontline of youth mental health crisis – Jigsaw

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jigsaw has called for continued action to embed greater mental health supports and training in schools, following today’s publication of the ESRI’s Supporting Student Wellbeing in School Contexts report.

Mike Mansfield, Director of Communications & Fundraising at Jigsaw, said: “We strongly welcome this report. It confirms what we see every day – schools are on the frontline of our youth mental health crisis, yet educators remain ill-equipped. With 75% of mental health difficulties that persist into adulthood starting before age 25, we cannot afford to wait. While we acknowledge the government’s recent significant investment in youth mental health and progress in educational policy, far more attention must be devoted to preventing mental ill-health in schools, rather than simply intervening as it arises.”

The ESRI findings echo Jigsaw’s experience working with more than 580 schools nationwide through our Neart programme, which supports schools to create a more positive mental health environment for students and staff. Research shows adolescents with better school connectedness have lower levels of self-harm, anxiety and depression – yet the top three stressors for young people all revolve around school: general issues, exams and homework, affecting Ireland’s 370,000 post-primary students.

“The solutions to the crisis in our youth mental health system lie as much outside the therapy room as in it,” Mansfield continued. “Kitchen tables, playing pitches and classrooms – these are the fertile grounds for improved mental health supports. The ESRI report rightly calls for embedding mental health supports in schools and strengthening teacher mental health literacy. Investment in keeping young people well, rather than waiting until they are very unwell, will save money – but more importantly, it has the potential to save young lives.”

Jigsaw stands ready to work with government, educators and communities to ensure every young person gets support when they need it most.

Neart is the national programme of wellbeing supports for post primary schools, and is a partnership between Jigsaw and NEPS (National Educational Psychological Services) / The Department of Education and Youth. Neart has a focus on strengthening the whole school environment and support systems around student, fostering school culture, relationships and belonging which support student wellbeing, which aligns well with the recommendations of the report. Neart also has an ongoing workstream on supporting the specific wellbeing needs of minoritised groups, holding EDI front and centre.

ENDS

Jigsaw research collaboration receives major state funding

Posted on by Ian Carey

A collaboration between Jigsaw and the UCD Youth Mental Health Lab has received major state research funding, the Minister for Mental Health announced this week.

The project, called ACCESS (Advancing Care through Singel-Session Therapy), is the first time that Jigsaw research has been awarded Health Reseach Broard funding.

Project ACCESS will:
• evaluate the introduction of Single Session Therapy (SST) within Jigsaw services;
• develop a programme theory to understand and explain how the model operates in practice;
• create a fidelity assessment tool to support consistent quality measurement and implementation across youth mental health settings.

A project group for the project includes (Principal Investigator) Dr Amanda Fitzgerald (UCD), Dr Sheena McHugh (UCC), and representation from Jigsaw – Dr Jeff Moore, Jason Smith, Dr Jim Lyng, and Conor Boksberger.

The project includes a wide range of international experts in a broader project advisory group – including leading single session therapy researcher Dr Jessica L Schleider

At various stages, there will be opportunities for Jigsaw clinicians and teams to volunteer time to inform and participate in the study.  The study will also include young people on the Project Steering Group and consult with young people about their experiences of single session therapy at point of access to Jigsaw.

This is a two year project & early-stage work will include recruitment of staff (based in UCD) and completion of a rapid review of the current literature on Single Session Therapy and youth mental health.

 

Ricky Tomlinson to support youth mental health at Dublin gig

Posted on by Ian Carey

TV and film legend, Ricky Tomlinson, will run a collection for Jigsaw at his upcoming Dublin gig.

The star of the Royal Family, who recently performed on the Late Late Show, is supporting Jigsaw because of his passion to support youth mental health.

The gig takes place on April 8th in Dublin’s Vicar Street venue and will be MC’d by Asa Murphy. Tickets are available here.

The show called ‘An evening with Ricky Tomlinson’ will be a funny, heartfelt evening with Ricky Tomlinson as he shares stories from his Liverpool roots, political activism, and iconic TV career.

Adam Burke, Jigsaw Wicklow’s Youth and Community Engagement Worker, got to meet Ricky and Asa before their RTE performance.

“I had a great chat with Ricky and Asa who really took the time to discuss Jigsaw and youth mental health in Ireland. They were really warm and keen to support in whatever way they could. Asa has similarly supported a UK mental health charity on that leg of the tour. He clearly had a great knowledge and passion for mental health and was incredibly impressed and supportive of Jigsaw’s work.”

 

Jigsaw at the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2026

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jigsaw attended the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition at the RDS last week. The four‑day event brought together some of Ireland’s brightest young minds, and we’re proud to support conversations around youth mental health.

Our team were be on-site throughout the exhibition to meet students, teachers, and visitors. We shared information about Jigsaw’s services and resources, and, more importantly, listend to young people as they discussed mental health.

Organisers report that nearly27 percentof the almost 2,000 projects submitted address mental health, stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, or wellbeing. This significant proportion indicates that students are deeply engaged with these issues and are eager to explore solutions through science and technology.

Mike Mansfield, Director of Communications and Fundraising at Jigsaw, commented:
“The fact that so many projects are centred on health and wellbeing shows that young people are not only thinking about their own mental health but also about how to improve it for others. This aligns perfectly with Jigsaw’s mission to support youth mental health across Ireland. We’re glad to be part of an event that brings together curiosity, creativity, and a genuine care for the future. We would also like to thank Smurfit Westrock for their generous support in helping Jigsaw attend this year’s exhibition.”

 

 

New Video: How EQUICARES is shaping equitable mental healthcare across Europe

Posted on by Ian Carey

We’re delighted to share the release of the official promotional video from the EQUICARES project, a major European research initiative that Jigsaw is proud to be part of. This video brings to life the vision, ambition, and impact of EQUICARES, highlighting our shared commitment to improving access to mental healthcare for people in vulnerable situations across Europe.

What Is EQUICARES?

EQUICARES is a four-year Horizon Europe project dedicated to making mental health and care services more accessible, inclusive, and equitable, especially for people who face persistent barriers to support.

The project brings together 18 partners from 9 countries, spanning research organisations, service providers, public authorities and advocacy groups, all working together to:

  • Understand barriers to mental healthcare access for vulnerable groups (including young people, migrants, older people, LGBTQI+ communities, people with disabilities, and those experiencing social or economic disadvantage).

  • Pilot innovative solutions co-designed with communities through grassroots “Smart Health Labs” in eight regions across seven countries.

  • Use cutting-edge methods like digital ethnography, advanced frameworks, and an AI-based Assistant to support mental health literacy, inclusion and digital skills.

  • Support policy change through evidence, cost analysis and tools like the Inclusive Mental Health & Care Policy Dashboard and an Atlas of innovative solutions for policymakers.

The promotional video gives a clear introduction to why this work matters and how it’s unfolding, from research to real-world impact.

Jigsaw’s Role in EQUICARES

Jigsaw’s Research & Evaluation team plays a central part in EQUICARES, bringing our expertise in mental health research, health systems evaluation and data analysis to a Europe-wide effort to understand how vulnerable populations experience care.

As part of the project:

  • We’re co-designing data collection tools and contributing to analytical frameworks that map barriers, enablements and opportunities across different contexts.

  • Our team led a dedicated Cultural Mediator and Research Team Training workshop to strengthen partners’ capacity to conduct ethical, inclusive, and culturally sensitive data collection and engagement with vulnerable groups.

  • We are actively involved in project steering and knowledge exchange, helping ensure that EQUICARES’ research approaches are ethically robust, evidence-based and informed by real lived experiences.

 

 

Perigord Group launch Jigsaw charity partnership with a staff bake sale and Christmas jumper fundraiser

Posted on by Ian Carey

Pictured left to right: Left to Right: Mike Mansfield Jigsaw, Teresa Howes Jigsaw Dublin 15, Lorraine Halpin Jigsaw Dublin 15 Heather Graham Perigord Group, David Graham Perigord Group, Evgeniya Kuznietsova Jigsaw Dublin 15, Justin McDermott Jigsaw.

The Perigord Group kicks off its new charity partnership with Jigsaw, by holding a Staff Christmas Jumper Day.

As a leading packaging, printing and communications company headquartered in Dublin 15, Perigord Group proudly support Jigsaw’s vital work. Jigsaw delivers free mental-health support and services to young people aged 12-25 in Dublin 15 and across Ireland.

“We recognise the importance of supporting Jigsaws young people’s mental health therapy and support services in our local community and across Ireland. This time of year challenges young people, so it is all the more important they have the support they need through services like Jigsaw,” said Heather Graham of Perigord Group.

Jigsaw’s mission is to ensure that every young person’s mental health is valued and supported. Jigsaw offers free therapy for children and young people (aged 12-25) struggling with their mental health. As well as supports to schools, sports clubs, workplaces and the wider community through mental health promotion.

All proceeds from the Perigord Group partnership fundraising will go directly to Jigsaw to support their ongoing mental-health services.

Justin McDermott, Fundraising Manager at Jigsaw, welcomed the partnership, saying:
“We’re delighted to have Perigord Group come on board. Their support helps young people access the mental-health support they need, when they need it. It’s inspiring to see organisations like Perigord rally their staff behind a cause that impacts so many.”

 

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska Visits Jigsaw Service in Dublin’s North Inner City

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jigsaw, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, welcomed the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, to its service in Summerhill, Dublin 1, during an official visit to Ireland with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The First Lady visited Jigsaw to learn more about how Ireland supports the mental health and wellbeing of young people, particularly through accessible, early-intervention, community-based services. The visit forms part of her wider humanitarian mission to develop strengthened youth mental health supports in Ukraine.

During her time at Jigsaw Summerhill, Mrs Zelenska met members of the Jigsaw leadership and board, youth advocates and local service users, who shared their experiences of supporting young people’s mental health challenges and the importance of timely intervention.

Speaking after the visit, Dr Joseph Duffy, CEO of Jigsaw, said:

“We were honoured to welcome the First Lady to our service today. Her deep commitment to the wellbeing of young people, particularly in the context of the profound challenges facing Ukrainian families, is inspiring.

“At Jigsaw, we believe that every young person deserves support that is early, accessible, and grounded in their community. We were proud to share our model, our approach, and, most of all, how the voices of young people shape what we do.

“We stand ready to collaborate and share our learnings with colleagues in Ukraine and internationally, in the hope that our experience can contribute in some small way to supporting young people living through extraordinarily difficult times.

“It was crystal clear to everyone in the room that the issue of youth mental health and wellbeing is of utmost important to the First Lady.”

Mrs Zelenska expressed appreciation for the opportunity to see the Irish model in practice and discussed her ambition to expand youth-focused mental health infrastructure across Ukraine, particularly as young people navigate trauma, displacement, and ongoing uncertainty.

The visit underscores growing international recognition of Ireland’s youth mental health approach and highlights Jigsaw’s role as a leader in early-intervention mental health support.

Jigsaw Youth Advocate and board member Sarah Whelan said:

“It was a fantastic opportunity to speak to the First Lady of Ukraine about the fantastic work Jigsaw does. Jigsaw places youth voice central to the work that is done at all levels, I look forward to watching the foundation grow – and partnering with young people in Ukraine in the future.”

Through the work of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, the First Lady shares many of Jigsaw’s values and today’s visit focussed on learning, information sharing and collaboration. Areas of discussions included emerging global models of primary care youth mental health, clinical staff and governance, funding models and evolution, youth and community engagement, school supports and more.

The visit comes as plans continue to roll out ‘Youth Spaces 12-21’, a Olena Zelenka Foundation initiative in Ukraine, aimed at creating spaces that combine individual and group psychological assistance, career counselling, leisure-time activities across the Ukraine.

 

 

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

 

PRESS RELEASE: Record demand for Jigsaw services as youth mental health pressures intensify

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, has reported the highest level of demand for its services in a single month since the charity was established.

In October 2025, 1,243 young people sought support from Jigsaw, compared to the same month last year it represents a 24.3% increase.

Across the first ten months of 2025 (January to October), 9,059 young people have turned to Jigsaw for help, marking a 22.3% rise on the same period in 2024.

This follows on from record-breaking demand for youth mental health services with the charity in September. This means that the last two months have been the two highest demand months since the youth mental health charity was founded in 2006.

Jigsaw CEO Dr. Joseph Duffy said the figures paint a stark picture of the growing pressures on young people.

“We are seeing more and more young people reach out because they’re struggling to cope, and that should be of real concern for all of us,” said Dr. Duffy.

“We need to make sure that every young person in Ireland, has access to free, face-to-face mental health support when they need it.

“The recent budget saw a major investment in two new Jigsaw services. – Waterford, to serve the Southeast, and in Clare. These are an important step forward and I want to commend the Government for giving youth mental health provision greater priority but we need to ensure we have the resources to meet the rising demand in other parts of the country, so no one is left behind.

“This is a challenge for primary care providers, mental health charities, like Jigsaw, as well as policymakers.”

Jigsaw, which provides free, confidential mental health support to young people aged 12–25, operates 14 services across Ireland alongside online and school-based supports.

Jigsaw wins Mental Health Initiative of the Year at the 2025 Irish Healthcare Awards

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, has been recognised with the Mental Health Initiative of the Year award at the 2025 Irish Healthcare Awards.

This comes in recognition of a significant and ambitious change management project designed to make mental health support more timely, accessible, and effective for young people.

Over the last year, we have rolled out a series of innovations across its national network, including online referrals, single session first therapy, and significant digital investments, all aimed at improving access and reducing waiting times for young people in need.

Since the introduction of these initiatives, Jigsaw has seen major results:

  • 68% of young people now receive an appointment within a month (up from 19% in 2023).
  • Self-referrals have increased sharply, offering young people the ability to refer at any time.
  • Wait times and administrative pressures have been significantly reduced.

Dr. Joseph Duffy, Jigsaw CEO said:

“We’re really proud to be acknowledged with this Irish Healthcare Award, especially in the company of so many outstanding healthcare initiatives.

This recognition reflects the commitment and creativity of our teams nationwide who have embraced change and innovation to better serve young people.

Every improvement made over the last 18 months has been driven by one goal — to make it easier and faster for young people to get the mental health support they need.”

This award comes at a time of unprecedented demand for Jigsaw across the country  – September 2025 represented the highest level of demand for Jigsaw services in a single month since the charity was established in 2006. In September, 1,226 young people sought support from Jigsaw, compared to the same month last year it represents a 40.9% increase. Indeed, across the first nine months of 2025 (January to September), 7,816 young people have turned to Jigsaw for help, marking a 22.6% rise on the same period in 2024.

Dr. Duffy commented – “Alongside the efforts of our teams, we are hugely grateful to all those who supported our ambition through funding and investment, including the HSE (Mental Health), the Community Foundation of Ireland, the Ireland Funds, the Smurfit Westrock Foundation, the Fidelity Foundation and many others. We strongly believe Ireland has the capability to deliver mental health care rapidly and early, where the public, private and not-for-profit national and community organisations collaborate as part of an integrated system. This strengthening of collaboration is key to bridging the gap between supply and demand.”

Ends.

 

 

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