Jigsaw as a Parent

While we all try to have good mental health, feeling bad is a part of the human experience as a young person, and so are feelings of stress, uncertainty adversity, and loss.

All of us will experience both good and poor mental health during our life. The more we are understanding and accepting of this, the easier it will be for young people in our lives to seek support from us when experiencing mental health difficulties.

Challenges to a young person’s mental health can be relatively brief or can last for a longer period. Some challenges they can deal with by themselves, or with the help of family and friends. Everyone is different, but here are a broad range of ways for a young person to support themselves and lift their mood:

• Social connection – talk to friends or family about what is going on for them and how they’re feeling
• Activities they enjoy – doing the things that they enjoy. These can be engaging, like taking up a new hobby, or they can be relaxing, like watching their favourite TV show
• Being active – activity is good for our mental health, whether it is something sporty like a game of football, or more chilled out, like a walk in the park
• Get some rest – take time to relax. This might include them getting to bed early, or having a quiet day with no expectations or responsibilities.

These are some common ways many young people help themselves to feel better, however sometimes their feelings will not pass. They can just be too big and they may need something more to support themselves in dealing with those feelings.

Sometimes young people need outside help with how they are feeling or what is going on for them. During these times, they may need help from mental health professionals:

• Your GP – your family doctor is a great person to talk to if you feel you need guidance with a young person’s mental health
• A school/college/workplace counsellor – many places will have a counsellor available to young people. These can be a really good option to talk through what is going on for them, and how they are feeling.
• Jigsaw – Jigsaw is a mental health charity that provides free therapy and support to young people in Ireland.

Jigsaw is a place where young people can get free therapy and support. We are a mental health charity, and our services are free. We don’t judge, and what young people tell us is confidential. Most young people have therapy with us in person, but we can do it online if they prefer.

If a young person is under 18 they have to get permission from a parent or guardian. With Jigsaw, there is usually a waiting time of a couple of weeks.

You can find out more about your local Jigsaw service through the links below:

• Cork
• Donegal
• Dublin South West
• Dublin 15
• Dublin City
• Galway
• Kerry
• Laois/Offaly
• Limerick
• Meath
• North Fingal
• Roscommon
• Tipperary
• Wicklow

There can be times when a young person can’t wait and needs to speak to someone immediately.

For example, if they have an urge or a plan to hurt themselves right now, then they need immediate support. They can contact their GP, or a local emergency service.

Here is a list of urgent care services.