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

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