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.
Youth Advocate Programme Ireland- Dublin (YAP)
The Youth Advocate Programme (YAP) provide intensive, needs-led, wraparound, focused support to children, young people and families who are struggling with a range of issues in their lives. YAP Ireland matches community-based advocates with those referred, leading to more positive engagement and outcomes. The organisation has a disability and mental health intensive support service that provides a 12-month programme to young people aged 8 – 18 years and their families who require support in achieving their goals. The Independent Advocacy Service is provided to Child and Adolescent Mental Health services and adolescent in-patient units. A Crisis Intervention service is also available for young people at particular risk. YAP is a nationwide service and has a regional office in Dublin City.
Youth and Education Service (YES) for Refugees and Migrants
YES is a service of the City of Dublin ETB that works with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds – in particular with unaccompanied minors. They offer a range of education and youth work activities that complement formal education provision and nonformal youth work practice. The Service’s programmes and interventions aim to support young people to realise their full potential, to negotiate and navigate their environment and life in Ireland and to live independent and healthy lives. The programmes include: Lifeskills sessions as part of the Migrant Access Programme, Study Buddy Programme, Evening groups, Individual outreach work, Cultural and recreation activities and residential trips.
Youth Health Service Cork
The Youth Health Service is a free HSE sexual health service for young people aged 23 years and under (First year in Secondary School-entry Point).
Established in 2004, the YHS provides health information, support and services for young people based on their needs and using referral pathways to other services where required. Parental consent is required for those under 17 years; staff will support the young person in getting parental consent if needed.
The YHS provides a broad range of services, including:
General advice & support in relation to Sexual Health
STI screening/clinic
Contraceptive clinic
Unplanned pregnancy support and counselling
Post-abortion medical checks & counselling
One-to-one youth work support
Drug and alcohol support & counselling
Counselling for sexual health issues, sexuality, relationships, and other related concerns to support young people’s mental health and well-being.
Youth New Ross
Youth New Ross (YNR) was founded for the benefit
of young people, and their families in New Ross
and the surrounding area. YNR has
grown and continues to be led by local people
working for the community, providing a range
of youth and family services in partnership with
other services and with the support of volunteers.
Their youth project offers a range of activities and
supports including mental health programmes and
one-to-one support.
Youth Work Ireland
General counselling and pyschotherapy for young people between the ages of 12 to 25. It is free and confidential.
Youth Work Ireland
General counselling and pyschotherapy for young people between the ages of 12 to 25. It is free and confidential.
Youth Work Ireland Cavan/Monaghan
The purpose of Youth Work Ireland Cavan Monaghan is to support youth development through an informal education process enabling young people to build better local communities. This is done by providing a community-based response to young people’s needs by offering them the opportunity to contribute to and participate in social education, artistic and recreational activities. Young people between the ages of 10-24years can participate in the services.
Youth Work Ireland Cork
Youthwork Ireland (YWI) Cork is a youth service based in the Gurranabraher/Churchfield area of Cork City. YWI Cork aims to provide a community-based response to young people’s needs by offering them the opportunity to contribute to and participate in social education, artistic and recreational activities. Since 2021 YWI Cork has been under the management of Cloyne Diocesan Youth service and offers a range of personal and social development programmes for young people in the area.
Youth Work Ireland Galway
Youth Work Ireland Galway Youth Counselling Service.
Youth Work Ireland Galway provides a youth counselling service to young people in Galway City and County. The free and confidential service offers counselling and support to young people 12-21yrs. Fully qualified and accredited adolescent therapists offer support, guidance and information in 8 locations in a friendly and safe environment and will work with young people to help them through difficulties they are experiencing. For more information please contact Aisling Dermody 0860247763 or email counselling@youthworkgalway.ie
Youth Work Ireland Galway Under18 Drug/Alcohol Addiction Counselling Accredited Addiction Counsellors based in Galway City, Count Galway and Roscommon provide assessment, counselling and support to adolescents and young people under 18 years of age. Youth Work Ireland Galway provides this service in collaboration with the Community Healthcare West Drugs Service. For more information please call 091 561637
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 First Aid Ireland
The Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) course from Mental Health First Aid Ireland is designed for adults who live with, work with or support young people aged between 12 and 18. This course teaches participants how to assist a young person who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves, using a practical, evidence-based action plan.
This evidence-based training programme is particularly suited to parents/guardians, school staff, sports coaches, community group leaders, youth workers etc. The mental health topics covered in this 14-hour YMHFA training include: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis and substance use problems.
The course curriculum was designed using guidelines developed through the expert consensus of people with lived experience of mental health problems and mental health professionals. Saint John of God Hospital clg is the sole licensee and exclusive provider of the Youth Mental Health First Aid programme in the Republic of Ireland.
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
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.