The Double Olympic Champion came to lend support to the 40 motorcycle riders travelling the country in aid of youth mental health.
Tag: press release
Dublin to host IYAMH 2026
The International Association of Youth Mental Health Conference will take place at Dublin’s Convention Centre from November 25th to 27th, 2026.
New training to support LGBTQ+ youth mental health
PRESS RELEASE
Youth organisations Jigsaw and Belong To co-created course for people working or volunteering with young people
Today national youth organisations Jigsaw – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health and Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland launched an updated training programme ‘Supporting the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People’.
The free online training has been created for adults who work or volunteer with young people in their communities to upskill in supporting LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health.
The two youth organisations originally came together in 2016 to develop a course for those who work or volunteer with young people. This is the second iteration of that course, updated to meet the current cultural environment and needs of LGBTQ+ youth.
The training takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete, and covers topics including:
- Using appropriate language and terminology when supporting LGBTQ+ young people;
- The current landscape of LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health;
- The impact of the social determinants of health on LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health;
- The impact of minority stress upon LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health; and
- Practical strategies to help build resilience among LGBTQ+ young people.
Growing Mental Health Challenges for LGBTQI+ Youth
Recent research from Trinity College Dublin, Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland, which was published in 2024, highlights the significant mental health challenges experienced by LGBTQ+ youth in Ireland today.
The report revealed that, compared to the general youth population, LGBTQI+ young people experience:
- Three times the level of severe and extremely severe symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression;
- Twice the level of suicide ideation; and
- Five times the level of suicide attempts.
Speaking about the course today, Dr Joseph Duffy (he/him), CEO at Jigsaw commented:
“People working and volunteering with youth have a huge opportunity to support them in a way that can really change lives. Being able to support young people through challenges being faced at a critical time in their development can have a huge and lasting impact. This training has been developed to provide anyone in this position with the knowledge and understanding to be able to support LGBTQ+ young people who we know need that support now.”
Also speaking was Moninne Griffith (she/her), CEO of Belong To who said:
“We’re very proud to be launching this updated training, and very conscious of the current environment in which we’re doing so with an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and a growing, coordinated attempt both internationally and here in Ireland to row back on LGBTQ+ rights. Young people see this and feel this. The findings of ‘Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland’ revealed last year are upsetting, but to those of us working to support LGBTQI+ people, unfortunately they are not surprising.
“This study demonstrates the harsh reality that depression, anxiety and stress have increased amongst LGBTQ+ youth since the first iteration of the same study in 2016. We hope that this study will be a resource for any person working or volunteering with young people to support them through challenges they are facing, at a time when they so clearly need that support.”