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
Turn2Me
Turn2Me provides an online 3 tiered approach to supporting mental well-being to people aged 18 years and over. It includes an online Self Help programme, Peer Support through online support groups, and Professional Support in the form of free online counselling. This online counselling is also free to Irish citizens living abroad.
Twxt About It- 50808
Text About It is a free, anonymous, 24/7 messaging service providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for mental health and wellbeing.
Text About It provides a safe space where you’re listened to by a trained volunteer. You’ll message back and forth, only sharing what you feel comfortable with. By asking questions, listening to you and responding with support, they will help you sort through your feelings until you both feel you are now in a calm, safe place
Walk In My Shoes
Walk in My Shoes (WIMS) is the flagship awareness-raising and education campaign of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS).
They run a number of campaigns and events throughout the year to promote positive mental health, and there are tonnes of ways that teachers and students can get involved, spark conversation, tackle stigma and foster wellbeing.
Key activities include the following-
Working to promote positive mental health, to tackle mental health stigma and to change how people, particularly young people, think about mental health.
They offer free wellbeing resources for:
• young people
• parents and guardians
• primary school and secondary school teachers to use in the classroom.
Youth Advocate Programme (YAP) Ireland
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 operating in 22 counties from their 5 centres, details of which can be found here https://yapireland.ie/contact-yap-ireland/
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.