Youth Mental Health Signposting Tool
What is it?
The youth mental health signposting tool aims to provide young people, parents, caregivers, and those working with young people, with reliable up to date information on where to access supports and services at both a local and national level for a variety of mental health issues.
To use it, simply select the issue affecting your mental health or the mental health of the young person you are supporting and the area in which you live.
Services
You can narrow your search by choosing a region, a service offered, or both.
Abbeyfeale Bereavement Support Group
Free Support group service for people who are suffering the pain of bereavement, providing a welcoming and supporting environment with necessary literature and booklets for attendees.
Access Counselling abd Counselling Advisory
Access Counselling offer one-to-one general counselling available to all ages for a wide range of issues. Each session lasts approx. one hour. A low-cost option is available.
Addiction Response Crumlin
Addiction Response Crumlin (ARC) is a community-based organisation. It was set up in 1996 to respond to the drug crisis in the Crumlin area of Dublin. Over the years, ARC has developed a comprehensive and integrated set of treatment, support and rehabilitation programmes. Counselling available. Free – For young people dealing with drug addiction, be that personally or in their family.
Advocates For Autism
Advocates for Autism (AFA) is a local registered
charity founded by a group of parents of children
with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and based in
County Wexford. They aim to make a difference
in the lives of local children by promoting an
awareness and understanding of autism. The
group also organises workshops and social activities.
Aíseiri Treatment Centre
Residential and community programmes for people dealing with alcohol, drug and gambling addiction to find help, counselling and specialist support to get the help they need. Provides a range of treatments for people with addictions, their families or anyone affected by addiction. Provide a 28-day residential programme for adults over 18. Provide a detox unit for adolescents followed by a 42-day residential treatment programme. Provide secondary care in their Waterford unit followed by a continuum of care programme up to two years post treatment. Fees covered by private healthcare: VHI, LAYA and AVIVA. Grants are also available from the department of social community and family affairs, HSE and probation and welfare services. Management payment plans can also be arranged.
Aiseiri- Aislinn Centre
Provides unique, quality treatment for young people between the age of 15 and 21 years living with the destructive impact of alcohol, drugs and/or gambling. At Aiséirí Aisling they believe in the priceless potential of young people and work closely with families to help them understand more about addiction so that they can support their loved ones win back bright futures. There is a charge associated with the service
Anew
offers support for women in crisis pregnancy, new mothers especially those who are at risk of homelesness. Provide supported, temporary accommodation, life-skills, intensive key-working, peer to peer support and counselling. Free service
ARC Family Resource Centre
ARC Family Resource Centre is a place for all to belong, to grow and develop together in order to improve the quality of life for children and families in Adamstown, Clonroche, Raheen and surrounding areas. The Family Resource Centre offers services such as Adult and Adolescent Counselling and Play Therapy, Community Education and Parenting Programmes, Homework Club, Food Cloud supports etc
Ard Family Resource Centre
Offers one to one counselling as well as group counselling at low cost, deliver educaiton and training opportuniti+O156es, information advice and support to target groups and families, advice on accessing rights and entitlements and offer referrals to mainstream services
Nationwide Services
Exchange House Ireland- National Travellers Service
Exchange House Ireland National Travellers service is a leading provider of front-line support services to Travellers, many of whom are marginalised. Exchange House is a large provider of youth services to the Traveller Community in the greater Dublin area.
Among the supports and services on offer are onsite activities and programmes including Arts, leadership, anti-bullying, and educational opportunities. The organisation also provides detached youth work. Family support programmes are available.
In addition, Exchange House provides the National Traveller Mental Health Service, which provides a counselling service for travellers to help them deal with the issues affecting them. This service provides counselling to those 18 years and older.
FirstLight
FirstLight offers free professional support and provides information to families in Ireland that have experienced the sudden, unexpected death of their child if aged from 0 to 18 years. They provide support to all family members who have lost a child (up to 12 years of age) in a number of ways including
(1) Crisis Intervention- by providing support around the time of death (call their crisis line – 087 2423777)
(2) Free Counselling through their list of counsellors around the country
(3) Family weekends
(4) Phone support
(5)Children’s groups and more.
Fóroige
Fóroige is a national Youth Organisation that has Youth Projects and Youth Clubs all over Ireland. Fóroige aims to enable young people to involve themselves consciously and actively in their development and in the development of society. Fóroige offers a wide range of development programmes for young people, details of which can be found on their website. Foróige groups and clubs operate Nationwide, to view a map of services in your area, go to: https://www.foroige.ie/foroige-map
GROW Mental Health Ireland
Find out about the many GROW meetings across the country on their INFOLINE @ 0818 474 474 and website @ https://grow.ie/join-a-support-group/. The purpose of the meetings is to support people who have or had a mental health illness. Some youth-specific groups take place for people aged 18-30 years. There is also the option to join online support meetings. Check the website for more information.
HSE – Mental Health
This website aims to improve awareness and understanding of mental health and well-being in Ireland. You will find tips for minding your mental health and supporting others. The website is also useful to help you search for supports in your local area. It also gives you information about what to do when someone tells you they are suicidal or self-harming.
I Fight Depression
The iFightDepression tool is a multilingual internet-based guided self-management tool for individuals with mild to moderate depression. The iFightDepression website promotes greater knowledge of and awareness of depression with the aim of increasing recognition of depression and decreasing the associated stigma.
Inclusion Ireland
Inclusion Ireland is the National is the National Association for People with an Intellectual Disability.
They work towards the full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities by supporting people to have their voices heard and advocating for rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. They also run a number of programme and have a variety of resources available on their website.
Involve
Involve delivers a wide range of programmes for young Travellers through their six centres across Ireland; details of the centres can be found on the Youth Services section of their website. Mental health promotion work is woven through these programmes; one example is the No Shame Mental Health Project
Irish Wheelchair Association
The Irish Wheelchair Association provides a wide range of services for people with physical disabilities. They have a young adult sevice designed to support young adults with physical disabilities to pursue their goals and build confidence. They offer life skills training to young adults in Clontarf, Kilkenny and Wexford.
The development of the YMHS tool
In 2015, the NYHP recognised the need to capture the voice of the sector in more depth through a rapid mental health needs assessment. One of the key findings from the Mental Health Needs Assessment was the need to support organisations, practitioners, and young people to access appropriate services. The Youth Mental Health Signposting tool was developed in response to this need.
The tool was revamped in 2024 to meet the emerging needs being communicated to the NYHP by Youth Workers and other professionals through consultation and engagement in the programme’s training and workshops.
We endeavour to keep this tool up to date. However, we are aware that new services and initiatives are being developed and launched all the time.
If you have a new service or an existing one not currently on the tool that you believe should be included, please add your information below.
Many thanks
The National Youth Health Programme would like to acknowledge the time, input and resources provided by a range of organsiations which contributed to the development of Youth Mental Health Signposting tool.
Disclaimer
The content of Youth Mental Health Signposting is provided for information purposes only. The National Youth Council of Ireland is not responsible for any interaction or outcomes between a client and a service provider listed. The NYCI does not endorse any professional or programme included in it map.