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Help shape the future of youth mental health in Ireland

Posted on by Ian Carey

Have you used mental health services? Or have you supported a child or young person who has? Your lived experience is powerful—and we want it to help shape the future of mental health support in Ireland.

The HSE and Jigsaw are currently recruiting for two national advisory panels:

  • Child & Youth Mental Health Advisory Panel: For young people under 18 who have used mental health services themselves, or have a close family member who has.

  • Parent & Carer Advisory Panel: For parents and carers of children and young people with experience of mental health services.

Both panels will work closely with us, the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Office, and the HSE Mental Health Engagement and Recovery Unit. Together, we will share ideas, influence decisions, and co-design national policies and procedures for CAMHS and other vital services.

What will I do?

As a panel member, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Take part in interactive workshops and discussions.

  • Share your valuable ideas and experiences of mental health services.

  • Review information, policies, and resources.

  • Work alongside other panel members, Jigsaw, and HSE staff to actively improve future services.

What is involved?

If selected, panel members will be asked to:

  • Commit to being part of the panel until December 2027.

  • Attend regular meetings from September 2026 to December 2027 (this includes online meetings and some in-person sessions in Dublin).

  • Take part in optional workshops and project work throughout the programme.

Travel expenses for in-person meetings will be fully covered, and you’ll receive ongoing, dedicated support from Jigsaw and HSE staff throughout your time on the panel.

Why join?

  • Have your voice heard: Make a real difference for children, young people, and families across Ireland.

  • Drive change: Directly help improve mental health services on a national level.

  • Connect: Meet others who share similar experiences in a welcoming environment.

  • Grow: Learn new skills and build your confidence.

How to apply

We are recruiting for both panels right now, and applications will close on 7th September.

To find all the information you need, and to access the application links, visit: jigsaw.ie/yourvoice

Eight locations. Hundreds of people. One vital cause. Will you brave the water for youth mental health this September? 🌊👇

Posted on by Ian Carey

Next month, the shores and outdoor pools of Ireland are going to look a little different. In eight communities across the country, hundreds of people will be coming together, getting into their togs, and braving the water—all in the name of youth mental health.

Welcome to the 2026 Dip for Jigsaw.

We know that when communities come together, incredible things happen. The Dip for Jigsaw is about exactly that: showing the children and young people in our local areas that we are here for them, and raising the vital funds needed to keep Jigsaw’s mental health support services running.

Where is it happening? Whether you’re a seasoned sea swimmer or someone who prefers to just dip a toe, there is a location waiting for you. We’re incredibly excited to bring the Dip to eight fantastic locations this year:

Saturday, 12th September:

  • Banagher, Co. Offaly (Outdoor public swimming pool)

  • Dromineer, Co. Tipperary

  • Fenit, Co. Kerry

  • Laytown Beach, Co. Meath

Sunday, 13th September:

  • Bray, Co. Wicklow

  • Portmarnock, Co. Dublin

Saturday, 19th September:

  • Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal

  • Salthill, Galway

How does it work? Taking part is incredibly easy. Registration is completely free, and we ask our dippers to aim for a fundraising goal of €200. We want to make it as fun and simple as possible to reach that goal, which is why everyone who registers gets their very own iDonate fundraising page, plus a special fundraising pack containing an exclusive Jigsaw t-shirt and sponsorship card.

It’s about community, connection, and making a splash for a cause that has never been more important.

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to get into the water, or a way to give back to your local community this autumn, we would love to see you there.

Want to learn more or secure your spot? Head over to our official event page to find all the details and sign up for your nearest location: dip.jigsaw.ie.

80 cyclists, two days, €210k – looking back at the Applegreen Cycle

Posted on by Ian Carey

Last weekend, over two glorious days on July 10th and 11th, 80 colleagues from across Applegreen got on their bikes for the Applegreen Cycle.

Open to cyclists of every skill level, the route took the team from the historic castle at Bunratty, Co. Clare, all the way to Tullamore, Co. Offaly. While experiencing some of the most beautiful cycling scenery Ireland has to offer, the team embarked on an incredibly challenging, positive, and powerful few days in the saddle.

Most importantly, their monumental efforts have raised an astounding €210,000 to date for their charity partner, Jigsaw.

There is something deeply fitting about cycling as a symbol for this cause. Progress isn’t always easy. Sometimes the road is steep, the wind is against you, and the finish line seems a long way off. But with determination, support, and people alongside you, it’s possible to keep moving forward.

By turning the pedals, one after another, these cyclists demonstrated huge generosity toward the children and young people (aged 12-25) we support day in and day out across our 14 regional services. The vital funds raised will directly support our free therapy and mental health resources. This journey taken together was one of true solidarity—with each other as colleagues, and with us as a charity partner, and we are hugely grateful.

By choosing to champion this cause, Applegreen colleagues have shown that youth mental health matters. Their dedication on and off the saddle will help fund vitally important and pressing solutions, ensuring that when a child, a young adult, a mam, or a dad reaches out and asks for help, we are there.

Every climb tackled, every headwind battled, every puncture fixed, and every turn of the wheel was for something so, so important.

To everyone who organised, supported, donated, or cheered from the sidelines—thank you.

Find out more about the cycle and the ongoing partnership at applegreen.jigsaw.ie.

Are we leaving our youth behind in the digital era? A new EU report points to Jigsaw as the way forward

Posted on by Ian Carey

It has been a significant week for youth mental health in Ireland and across Europe. The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) has just released a major new report: Mental health of young people in a digital era. The findings are stark, detailing the unique modern pressures on our youth, but the report also brings validating news for our community: Jigsaw’s youth hub model is highlighted in the report as a leading, successful example of how to properly support young people.

The “Missing Middle” and the cost of inaction

The report paints a worrying picture of the escalating pressures facing young people. Currently, almost one in five young people in the EU lives with a diagnosable mental disorder, with anxiety and depression leading the burden. Furthermore, adolescents are increasingly struggling with sub-clinical distress—such as sleep disruption and low self-esteem—exacerbated by the digital environment, including persuasive platform designs and algorithms that promote harmful content.

One of the most critical structural issues identified by the EPRS is the “missing middle”. Mental health systems across Europe are frequently structured to treat only acute, severe crises. This leaves a massive gap for adolescents experiencing mild-to-moderate psychological distress, who often languish on long waiting lists or receive no formal support until their condition deteriorates. The socioeconomic cost of ignoring this missing middle is staggering: if we maintain the current status quo, youth mental ill-health will cost the EU economy an estimated €1.68 trillion over the next decade.

Jigsaw’s approach: A blueprint for Europe

This is exactly the gap Jigsaw exists to fill, and we are immensely proud to see our work recognized as a “mature” and effective community intervention model at the European level. In its assessment of solutions, the report praises Jigsaw for providing an essential intermediate tier of early care.

The EPRS highlights our core model: providing free, brief, primary-care-level talking therapy designed to build coping skills and prevent early distress from becoming entrenched. Crucially, the report champions our low-threshold accessibility. By allowing young people aged 12-25 to self-refer—bypassing the need for a general practitioner referral—we remove massive administrative barriers and accelerate access to non-stigmatizing care.

We see the daily impact of this approach across our 14 regional services. It is incredibly validating to see the report cite our strong outcome data, noting that between 62% and 68% of Jigsaw participants show reliable and clinically significant improvements in their psychological distress. The report also emphasizes the strength of our multidisciplinary teams—which include psychologists, social workers, and youth workers—and our integration with local schools and primary care providers.

Moving forward with the recommendations

To turn the tide on this crisis, the EPRS report proposes six core EU-level policy options. Notably, Option 2 calls for a dedicated EU framework to support “youth-friendly early-intervention services” or youth hubs—directly mirroring the Jigsaw model. It recommends exactly what we have built: low-threshold access, multi-disciplinary care, and youth-centered environments.

We have long advocated that community-based, youth-friendly support should be the standard everywhere. This European recognition is a profound testament to the dedication of our staff and the young people who inspire us. Now, it is time to use this momentum to ensure that every young person in Ireland has a safe place to turn to when the digital and offline worlds become too much.

Women out in force in support of Jigsaw

Posted on by Karl Hempton

Last month, over 125 women from across Ireland stepped up and ran in the annual VHI Women’s Mini Marathon, all in aid of Jigsaw.

We were overwhelmed by the support, the positivity and the energy each and every participant brought on the day.
Race day was full of energy, excitement and community spirit from start to finish. Before heading to the start line, many of our runners joined us for a pre-race meet-up at Starbucks on Lower Leeson Street to enjoy a coffee, meet fellow Team Jigsaw runners and soak up the atmosphere before the big event.

There was a real sense of community throughout the day, with runners encouraging one another from the moment they arrived right through to the finish line. Nearly 80 of our runners were taking part with Team Jigsaw for the very first time, making it especially encouraging to see so many new faces become part of the team.

To everyone who fundraised, volunteered, donated or simply cheered our runners on, thank you 🧡💜

And a special word of thanks to Nicola, Anastasia, Róisín, Aisling, Daina, Aoife, Roisin Rua, Ava, Xanthe, Roisin, Lucy, Shauna, Abby, Claire, Niamh, Lucie, Hannah, Christine, Abby, Ciara, Zara, Natalia, Polina, Robyn, Alison, Jessyca, Donna-Marie, Trish, Nicole, Ciara, Erin, Rachel, Roberta, Amanda, Norma, Abbie, Emer, Ciara, Katherine, Rachel, Martyna, Nuala, Georgina, Karen, Michelle, Rachael, Níamh, Molly, Maria, Laura, Danieli, Pamela, Majella, Niamh, Annabelle, Nicoleta, Anna, Katie, Makayla, Inga, Aine, laura, Danielle, Emma, Izabela, Ainura, Ernesta, Jennifer, Iwona, Dominika, Katie, Nyah, Nadine, Katie, Jennifer, Wendy, Ella, Beril Ada, Áine, Nicola, Siobháin, Sabi, Niamh, Karen, Aoife, Ana Magdalena, Any, Elise, Zoé, Nazreen, Fiona, Kate, Megan, Anna, Brigid, Raquel, Sharmaine, Olivia, Gráinne, Cara, Laoise, Aimee, Ciara, Kerri, Martina, Maura, Megan, Tania, Malgorzata, Michelle, Ciara, Brightness, Nicola, Ciara, Sharon, Karyn, Dainora, Abigail, Clodagh, Jennifer, and Katie.

Every kilometre you covered, every euro you raised and every message of support you offered has helped make a real difference for young people’s mental health.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year.

Taking the leap for youth mental health

Posted on by Ian Carey

An incredible community of supporters came together for a truly unforgettable experience — abseiling from the iconic Hogan Stand in Croke Park, all in support of youth mental health.

On May 28th, a total of 48 inspiring Jigsaw Heroes took part in this year’s Abseil for Jigsaw, each stepping well outside their comfort zone to make a difference for young people across Ireland.

 

“Abseil for Jigsaw 2026 was a truly special day that wouldn’t have been possible without our 48 Jigsaw Heroes. Massive thank you to everyone who took part and shone a light on Youth Mental Health.”
– Alan Grogan, Fundraising Officer

A Nationwide Effort

Participants travelled from every corner of Ireland, united by courage, determination, and a shared commitment to supporting youth mental health. We were proud to be joined by representatives from our valued charity partners — Applegreen, M&S, and Addleshaw Goddard — alongside passionate supporters from across the community.

We were also especially delighted to see Jigsaw Youth Advocates and staff members taking on the challenge themselves, truly embodying the spirit of what Jigsaw stands for.

A Day of Courage and Connection

From the first step over the edge to the cheers from below, the day was filled with moments of bravery, celebration, and connection. With breathtaking views from the top of the Hogan Stand, each participant experienced a powerful sense of achievement as they made their descent.

Making an Impact Together

Thanks to the incredible efforts of everyone involved, the event has already raised over €28,000 to support Jigsaw’s work with young people across Ireland.

Every step taken — and every metre descended — helps ensure that more young people can access the mental health support they need, when they need it most.

Get Involved in 2027

Feeling inspired? Why not take on the challenge yourself?

If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience in one of Ireland’s most iconic venues — all while supporting youth mental health — you can now register your interest for our next event:

👉 Sign up for Abseil for Jigsaw 2027

Be the first to hear when tickets are released and secure your place for another incredible day of courage and community.

A huge thank you to every participant, partner, and supporter who made this event so special — together, we’re making a real difference.

Understanding self-harm in Ireland

Posted on by Ian Carey

Understanding self‑harm among young people is essential to improving how we respond, both within services and across communities. In Ireland, one of the most important sources of national evidence is the National Self‑Harm Registry Ireland (NSHRI). The Registry collects detailed information on presentations to hospital emergency departments following self‑harm, providing a national picture of who is affected, when presentations occur, and how patterns change over time.

At Jigsaw, we use insights from the NSHRI alongside our own service data to better understand the needs of young people. This evidence informs not only how our services are planned and delivered, but also how we identify emerging trends, respond to areas of increased need, and ensure supports are reaching the young people who need them most. By combining national and local data, we can take a more responsive and evidence‑informed approach to youth mental health. Importantly, the value of NSHRI data goes beyond service delivery. It also helps shape Jigsaw’s wider work in early intervention, schools programmes, and mental health promotion. In this way, Registry findings contribute to a more coordinated, whole‑system response to supporting young people’s mental health and preventing self‑harm.

Some people who self-harm will require medical attention and may attend a hospital emergency department. In that case, information about the presentation may be recorded by the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland (NSHRI). The NSHRI is a system that records and reports on information about self-harm presentations to hospital emergency departments across the Republic of Ireland. The NSHRI helps to identify which groups in the country present to hospital, when presentations occur, the types or methods of self-harm, and which places in the country have the highest rates of self-harm. The NSHRI highlights the need for services for those who self-harm, and data from the NSHRI helps inform wider self-harm and suicide prevention efforts.

Self-harm in the Republic of Ireland in 2024: Facts and figures

  • In 2024, there were 4,841 presentations by young people (12–25 years old), of a total of 12,621 presentations across all ages. This means that more than a third of self-harm presentations to hospital are by young people.
  • In Ireland, that means that one in 204 young people attended hospital after self-harm in 2024. This is in comparison to one in 552 people across all ages.
  • Self-harm presentations to hospital are twice as common among girls than boys. For teenagers (13–19 years old), the difference was even larger, with girls three times more likely to attend hospital with self-harm than boys.
  • The rates among young people increased during the pandemic, but decreased slightly (by 4%) from 2023 to 2024.
  • For young men, the highest rate is among 20–25-year-olds, with one in 290 men attending hospital with self-harm.

The latest findings of the Registry can be found here (https://www.nsrf.ie/registry/latest-registry-findings/).

Contact the Registry

If you attended a hospital emergency department in the Republic of Ireland with self-harm, your data may have been confidentially recorded by the NSHRI. The NSHRI adheres to the GDPR guidelines for the processing of data. If you or your parent/guardian would like to check if your data have been recorded by the Registry, or if you would like us to remove your data from our database, you can contact us via our website (nsrf.ie/registry) or by e-mailing infonsrf@ucc.ie.

Support

If you or someone you know needs support or is in crisis:

  • Contact your local General Practitioner (GP)
  • Go to/contact the Emergency Department of your nearest hospital

Details of other health services in your area can be found here (www2.hse.ie/mental-health/) or by calling the HSE Mental Health information line any time: freephone 1800 111 888

Help shape support for your teen’s wellbeing

Posted on by Ian Carey

Parenting a young person today can feel both rewarding and overwhelming. As our children grow into teenagers and young adults, their emotional world becomes more complex – and as parents, we all want to support them in the best way possible.

But what does effective support really look like?

At Jigsaw, in collaboration with the University of Limerick, we’re working to answer that question through an exciting new initiative — the PEARL Project.

What is the PEARL Project?

The PEARL project is focused on developing a practical, evidence-informed parenting programme to help strengthen young people’s ability to regulate their emotions — a skill that is critical for mental health, relationships, and resilience.

A key part of this work is ensuring that the programme reflects the real experiences, challenges, and insights of parents and caregivers.

That’s where you come in.

Your Voice Matters

Any parent or caregiver of a young person (aged 12—25 years) is invited to take part in a confidential, 1-hour online discussion.

This is your opportunity to:

  • Share your experiences of supporting your young person
  • Talk about what works — and what doesn’t
  • Help shape a programme that will support families across Ireland

Sessions are flexible and supportive, and you can choose to take part:

  • One-to-one, or
  • In a small group discussion
  • With a dedicated group available for fathers

Why Take Part?

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual — but together, we can create something close.

By taking part, you will:

✅ Help ensure parents’ voices are at the heart of this programme
✅ Contribute to a resource designed to make a real difference in young people’s lives
✅ Support other families facing similar challenges
✅ Be part of a meaningful collaboration between research and real-life experience

Most importantly, your input will help create something practical, relevant, and genuinely useful — not just in theory, but in everyday family life.

A Small Commitment, A Lasting Impact

We know your time is valuable. That’s why participation is simple:

  • Just 1 hour online
  • Completely confidential
  • Scheduled at a time that suits you

That one hour could help shape support that benefits countless young people and families.

Get Involved

If you’re interested in taking part, signing up is easy:

👉 Sign up here

There is a specific sign up link if you are interested in taking part in the group dedicated to fathers.

👉 Fathers sign up here

📧 Or contact: sarah.oleary@ul.ie for more information

 

Bringing light to youth mental health at Bloom

Posted on by Ian Carey

This weekend, thousands of people will gather in Dublin’s Phoenix Park for Bord Bia Bloom, Ireland’s largest festival of gardening, food and sustainable living, taking place from 28 May to 1 June 2026

Among the many small Irish businesses and creators showcasing their work, one woman is using the event to give something back.

Fiona O’Donohoe, founder of Away With Nature is bringing her candle, Flicker, — a handmade, Irish product created with a focus on sustainability and wellbeing.

All profits from the sale of this candle are being donated to Jigsaw, helping to support youth mental health across Ireland.

Supporting Jigsaw, one candle at a time

Jigsaw works with young people across Ireland, offering free, accessible mental health support and early intervention services. Initiatives like this help ensure that more young people can get the support they need, when they need it.

By choosing to donate all profits from Flicker, this small business is turning a simple purchase into meaningful impact — supporting young people and raising awareness throughout one of Ireland’s busiest summer events.

Visiting Bloom this weekend?

Bloom is known for bringing together the best of Irish food, creativity, sustainability and wellbeing, with experiences ranging from show gardens to artisan craft and wellness spaces.

If you’re attending over the bank holiday weekend, keep an eye out for Away With Nature and the Flicker candle. Stopping by is a small way to support both a local maker and Jigsaw’s work.

Find out more

  • You can learn more about the candle and purchase it here:
👉 Away With Nature – Flicker
  • Planning a visit to Bloom? Explore the full event here:
👉 Bord Bia Bloom Festival

 

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