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
ISPCC- Childline
Childline is Ireland’s 24-hour national listening service for all children and young people (up to and including the age of 18) in Ireland. It is private, confidential and non-judgemental and can be contacted for free from anywhere in Ireland.
Childline can be contacted by any child or young person by calling 1800 66 66 66 or chatting online at Childline.ie 24 hours a day, every day.
Children contact Childline to talk about any issue on their mind. Some children who contact Childline may feel upset, or isolated, while others simply contact Childline to chat about their day or share their hopes and dreams.
Jigsaw
Jigsaw is a national organisation that aims to promote the mental health of young people. Jigsaw provides a free and confidential service for young people in several locations nationwide, between 12 and 25 years old. Jigsaw aims to ensure that young people’s voices are heard and that they get the proper support where and when needed. Jigsaw is not a crisis service. It is an early intervention, primary care service for young people’s mental health. Jigsaw has 14 local services offering face-to-face support and sessions by video link and phone. There is also family and peer support available. Details of the different services and opening times can be accessed here- https://jigsaw.ie/services-in-your-area/
LGBT Ireland
LGBT Ireland listens in confidence and without judgement, seven days a week. Young people can talk to them by phone or online through their instant messaging service (check their website for hours of service) or by going to one of their peer support groups (check their website for a group near you) https://lgbt.ie/our-services/peersupport/
Macra na Feirme
Macra are a youth organsisation for young people from the farming community, aged 17-35 years. Macra na Feirmes mission is to empower their members by offering new opportunities and experiences for development, connection and adventure to encourage them to be the person they want to be so they can learn, grow and flourish. They promote positive mental health through their activities and programmes. They also signpost people to relevant services as the need arises. Details of Macra clubs can be found here https://macra.ie/pages/clubs
Mental Health Ireland
Mental Health Ireland (MHI) provides a range of services, supports and information to individuals and communities around the country to promote positive mental health. This is done with the support of their Area Development Officers around the country. Check their website for an A-Z of mental health issues, details about their Mind Your Mental Health training (18+ years) and their Mental Health in the Community certificate course and more.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Centre- Beaumount Hospital
An online resource to learn about how and why to practice relaxation and mindfulness exercises and use the many recordings provided in your everyday life.
MyMind
MyMind is the first and largest blended model of mental health care in Ireland and is putting Ireland at the forefront of mental health innovation. MyMind has created a unique movement for community-based mental health services that work towards giving every person in Ireland equal access to mental health support early, affordably, directly, and without stigma or delay. MyMind is bridging the gap between public and private Mental Health Services.
MyMind provides counselling, psychotherapy and creative art therapy services for children and adolescents. In partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation, free services are available to particularly vulnerable young people.
MyMind works with Children and adolescents of all ages right into adulthood. There is a standard fee of €60 per session for each face-to-face counselling session.
They have operate in Dublin, Cork and Limerick, details can be found on their website.
National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI)
The National Youth Council of Ireland is the representative body for around 50 national voluntary youth work organisations in Ireland. It represents and supports their interests and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.
NYCI offers a wide variety of training and education programmes for professionals and volunteers who work directly with young people details of which can be found here https://www.youth.ie/training/
There is also a range of e-learning courses designed to inform and upskill those working directly with young people, details can be found here https://www.youth.ie/training/?tag=e-learning-courses
Pavee Point
Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre is a national non-governmental organisation comprised of Travellers, Roma and members of the majority population working in partnership at national, regional, local and international levels.
Over the past thirty years Pavee Point has an established track record in innovative and ground-breaking work using a collective community development approach to addressing Traveller & Roma issues and promoting Traveller & Roma human rights.
They run a variety of education programmes and initiative including on health and mental health.
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.