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
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.