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

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.