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.
Athlone- Midlands Rape Crisis Centre
One-to-one counselling, free phone counselling, long or short term counselling for victims of sexual violence/sexual abuse. Available to young people from 14 to 18 years of age, both male and female. No fee – donation based.
Athy Community and Family Resource Centre
Aims to support families and individuals in Athy, provides many services aimed at all members of the community. Provides counselling for those 18+, family support services, money advice and budgeting services, substance abuse groups and employability services.
Autism Awareness Rosscrea
Voluntary group formed to provide information and supports to families living with autism. Aim to raise awareness about autism to the wider community while developing facilities and services to respond to need. Provides a community hub for people on the autism spectrumto meet for social interaction and recreation. Provide regular parent meetings, recreational activities for children and adults with autism, informational talks for parents/grandparents/siblings of those on the autsim spectrum. Provides access to sensory AAR hub
Aware
Aware are the national organisation providing free support, education and information services to people impacted by anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and related mood conditions. Aware provide support, information and training, online and in person, to people over 18 years who are experiencing depression, anxiety and related conditions.
They run a Freephone HELPLINE seven days a week 10am – 10 pm, the number is 1800 80 48 48.
Access online support on supportmail@aware.ie, which provides a next-day response (Monday- Friday). For people with someone in their life experiencing depression or bipolar disorder, their Relatives Education Programme can be booked on their website
Bagenalstown Family Resource Centre
General Counselling. Art Therapy. Support Group – Rainbows Spectrum Programme (Separation & Bereavement). Strengthening Families Programme. All free of charge.
Baldoyle Family Resource Service
Baldoyle Family Support Centre is in the heart of the community of Baldoyle and serves the surrounding area and community. Baldoyle FRS works with communities and individuals to improve outcomes around children’s education, youth development and parent and family support. The centre offers a low-cost counselling service from the ages of 12 to adulthood along with an extensive range of other mental health supports & services.
Ballina Family Resource Centre
Ballina Family Resource Centre is in the heart of the community of Ballina and serves the town and surrounding areas. The FRC works with communities and individuals to improve outcomes around children’s education, youth development and parent and family support. The FRC provide a low-cost one-to-one counselling service for adolescents aged 12-18 years.
Ballincollig Family Resource Centre
Ballincollig Family Resource Centre (FRC) is located in the heart of the community of Ballincollig and serves the town and surrounding areas. The FRC works with communities and individuals to improve outcomes around children’s education, youth development and parent and family support. The FRC offers a low-cost counselling service as well as play/art therapy along with a range of other supports & services.
Ballyally Family Resource Centre
Community support service. Supporting and prioritising individuals and families most at risk, encouraging them to participate in programmes, activities and services to promote social inclusion and anti-poverty. Offers low cost counselling service.
Nationwide Services
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.
Pieta
Pieta off a free phone crisis HELPLINE available 24/7 providing support to people who are suicidal and those self-harming @ 1800 247 247. Text line also available @ 51444 by texting HELP.
Pieta also offer a range of therapeutic services, these can be booked by calling 0818 111 126.
Find information about their services around the country by visiting here https://www.pieta.ie/contact/
Rainbows Programme
The 12–14-week Rainbows programme supports children and young people up to 18 years of age affected by loss because of bereavement, separation or divorce. The service is available in local communities throughout Ireland. Check for a location near you by checking their website here https://www.rainbowsireland.ie/public-centres/.
The service is free.
Samaritans
Samaritans provide a 24/7 Freephone HELPLINE 116 123 for people (18 years and older) distressed or in despair, including feelings that may lead to suicide. Support is also available by email, text, letter or by visiting one of their centres around the country. Details on their website of location of centres and opening hours. Find details on the closest Samaritan Centre to you here https://www.samaritans.org/ireland/branches/
Shine
Shine is the national organisation that addresses the rights and needs of people, 18 years and older, who are affected by mental ill health. For people experiencing severe depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia it provides a counselling service in Cork and Dublin. Shine also provides email support for people not ready to attend counselling (phil@shineonline.ie). It has an education programmes for people who are experiencing mental illness and for their families / carers and members of the community. It has Regional Centres in Dublin, Cork and Waterford. Finally it’s Regional Development Officers located across the country provide further support to people experiencing mental ill health, to their families and to the community at large.
SpunOut
SpunOut is a comprehensive Youth information website created by young people, for young people, including information on mental, physical and sexual health and information about local services. 16–25-year-olds
St. Patricks Mental Health Services
St. Patricks Mental Health Service telephone and email service is staffed by experienced mental health nurses 9-5 Monday to Friday with an answering and call-back facility outside hours. It is for the general public with a mental health query about themself or someone else. They also run an Information Centre (10-5 Mon- Thu and 10-4 on Friday with late night opening until 7pm on Wednesday) which provides guidance and help in accessing the most relevant mental health information and services across the country as well as information on support groups and service user rights and entitlements. There are also a range of self help books for sale in the Centre.
Suicide or Survive (SOS)
SOS endeavours to challenge the stigma attached to mental illness and provide a range of educational and therapeutic programmes that increase understanding of suicide and play an active role in its prevention in Ireland. Check their website or phone them for course details. Cost applies.
Supported Families
Supported Families educate, equip and empower parents, partners and family members on eating disorder recovery. They give them the tools and skills that they need to effectively support their loved one’s recovery. They firmly believe that family members are the ‘untapped superpower’ in recovery and supporting them accelerates the recovery of their loved one (and research supports this). They work fully online and run both 1:1 and group programmes. We also educate professionals on eating disorders and run some events to support individuals themselves.
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.