Jigsaw Laois/Offaly
Laois/Offaly
Meet the team and find out all the details you need to get in touch with the Jigsaw service in Offaly and Laois, for youth mental health support.
Contact Details
Telephone: 353 57 93 52871
Location
Address: Cormac Street,
Tullamore,
Co. Offaly
Eircode: R35 XH74
Opening Hours
- Monday 9am – 1pm, 2pm – 5.30pm
- Tuesday 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 7pm
- Wednesday 9am – 1pm, 2pm – 5.30pm
- Thursday 9am – 1pm, 2pm – 5.30pm
- Friday 9am – 4.30pm
- Saturday - Closed
- Sunday - Closed
Closed: The Mondays of Bank Holidays
About us
Jigsaw Laois/Offaly provides a free and confidential support service for young people in counties Offaly and Laois aged 12 – 25. Our Jigsaw Hub is located on Cormac Street in Tullamore.
Jigsaw Laois/Offaly aims to make sure that young people’s voices are heard, and that they get the right support, where and when they need it.
Direct support for young people
Our hub on Cormac St. in Tullamore provides a welcoming space for young people to make an appointment, get information or have a chat with a support worker. If a young person wants support, our staff are there to listen, without making judgements, and to provide supportive guidance. We also provide information and advice to anyone who is worried about a friend or young person in their life. Anyone who would like to make an appointment can ring 057 935 2871.
Working with the community
As well as directly helping young people in tough times, we want to work towards a community that is supportive of mental health and well being. Presentations and talks in schools, workplaces and community groups aim to open up a discussion on mental health and raise people’s awareness of the support that Jigsaw Kerry can offer.
Working with young people
At Jigsaw, we believe it is vital to make sure young people’s voices are heard. Our Youth Advocates represent us and take part in decision making at every level.
Tell us about your experience
At Jigsaw, we care passionately about what we do and strive to give young people the best possible support with their mental health. If you are happy, or unhappy, with our service in any way, let us know by completing our online feedback form.
Please select the option best suited to you:
Meet the Jigsaw Laois/Offaly team
Vanessa Dowling
I have worked in mental health for 24 years. I previously worked as Clinical Nurse Specialist in St Patrick Mental Health Services. I was responsible for the establishment and Coordination of the Depression Recovery Service. I also worked as a Cognitive Psychotherapist and Compassion Focused Therapy for many years. I also have a MSc in Cognitive Psychotherapy. I was born and reared in Offaly.
Study and work
I am a registered Mental Health Nurse with a BSc in Health Promotion and Nursing Science.
Vanessa Dowling
I have worked in mental health for 24 years. I previously worked as Clinical Nurse Specialist in St Patrick Mental Health Services. I was responsible for the establishment and Coordination of the Depression Recovery Service. I also worked as a Cognitive Psychotherapist and Compassion Focused Therapy for many years. I also have a MSc in Cognitive Psychotherapy. I was born and reared in Offaly.
Study and work
I am a registered Mental Health Nurse with a BSc in Health Promotion and Nursing Science.
Deirdre Little
One of the things that I like about Jigsaw is the joint leadership model, I have had similar experience of this in previous roles and enjoy working within this model. It allows the Service Manager to concentrate on the operational and community engagement pieces whilst the Clinical Manager takes clinical lead.
Study and work
My background is education and business, whilst initially training in Early Years Education I found myself gravitating towards management roles so I went back and completed a Master’s in Business.
Prior to working in Jigsaw, I worked in a preschool service for children with Autism working both directly with the children and also leading the management teams. While I miss the direct 1:1 work with children in my current role, I do however have the time to focus on the more operational day to day duties along with having the opportunity to be involved with young people in the community, in schools and through our youth advocates.
The early intervention ethos of the organisation and being part of an organisation which can support young people’s mental health really appealed to me. As with all early intervention models, the earlier that a concern can be identified the better chance of a more positive outcome.
Leona McManus
I have been working with Jigsaw Laois Offaly since October 2017. As a member of the clinical team, I provide 1:1 support to young people attending Jigsaw to help them with any issues or concerns that they have in relation to their mental health. I work from our hub in Tullamore as well as from our outreach in Portlaoise.
Study and work
I completed my degree in Occupational Therapy in NUIG and graduated in 2013. I’m an Occupational Therapist by background and prior to joining Jigsaw I worked with two different paediatric services for children and teenagers with disabilities.
Annette Molloy
I was born and am still living in Tullamore Co. Offaly. I have been in private practice for many years and have additional training and a keen interest in Eating Disorders.
Study and work
I have a degree in Psychology and a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy.
Aoife Lynam
I began my role as a Clinician with Jigsaw Laois/Offaly in February 2021.
Study and work
I studied a BA in Applied Social Studies in Social Care at Athlone Institute of Technology. After graduating in 2015, I worked as a social care worker in residential services until November 2019.
Returning to education, I completed a Masters in Social Work in Trinity College Dublin and graduated in November 2019. I then worked as a Child Protection Social Worker for TUSLA from November 2019 until January 2021.
Megan Carroll
I am a qualified Mental Health Nurse. I trained with Dublin City University, graduating with an Honours Degree in Mental Health Nursing in 2018. I have worked in many areas, both in adult and in youth mental health.
Study and work
My experience ranges as I have worked in the community settings and in hospital inpatient care. I have always really enjoyed working with the younger generations. I strongly believe, if you catch a wobble early you are paving the way, building stronger resilience and better outcomes.
Before coming to Jigsaw, I worked in an Acute Day Hospital in the community in Dublin. I have learned it is very important to find your common ground for all involved as this builds a firm platform to work from together.
Niamh Dunne
I am a qualified Mental Health nurse. I completed my degree in 2016 in Dublin City University (DCU). In 2022 I completed a postgraduate degree in Community Mental Health nursing in St Angela’s College.
Study and work
I worked in Dublin for almost five years in adult mental health nursing. I worked for almost a year in Australia in adolescent/ young adult mental health nursing. I really enjoyed working with young adults as I found they were very positive about their recovery journey in mental health.
Jigsaw is a progressive service, prompting positive mental health and empowering young people in Ireland. I was really eager to work in this service to support young people experiencing mental health difficulties, provide early interventions and improve the difficulties they may be experiencing
Sarah Butler
I am originally from Dublin but moved to the beautiful midlands in 2021. At the beginning of my career I worked in mainstream residential care with young people. From there I spent a few years travelling and when I returned to Ireland I worked in the homeless sector and a resource centre supporting families. Before joining Jigsaw I was a youth worker supporting young people in their local community throughout Laois and Offaly.
Study and work
I have a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care from South East Technological University. In 2021 I completed my MA in Advanced Facilitation Skills for Promoting Health and Wellbeing.
Joanne Saunders
I was born and grew up in Laois. My professional background includes qualifying as a Life and Personal Coach in 2010.
I have completed a Level 8 Hons Degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and also specialized in Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy in 2018. I’ve been working full-time in my preferred field since. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I developed and established an online Counselling Service for the Midlands Traveller Health Unit. Post Covid, 2021, I established a local Counselling and All Therapies service to South Laois called Abbeywell House.