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.
Arklow Springboard Family Support Service
Arklow Springboard Family and Support Service are part of the Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service. They use a ‘meitheal’ approach (community based approach) to supporting individuals. They have a project worker to support families and also provide individual therapeutic support for young people if needed. They work specifically with individuals engaged with drug misuse and teen parents.
Artane Coolock Family Resource Centre
Artane/Coolock Family Resource Centre is a registered charity based in Artane and serve the communities of Coolock and Artane and surrounding areas. Artane/Coolock FRC 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 and a play therapy service for children.
AsIAm
AsIAm is Irelands autism charity. They offer a rang of supports and resources for young people with autism and their family/carers on their website. They also offer an autism information line each Monday to Thursday 10 am to 3 pm @ 0818 234 234, email support can also be accessed at support@asiam.ie. They also offer talks, training and programmes to upskill professionals working with young people with autism.
Aspen Counselling Services Lucan Ltd.
Low cost counselling service based in the heart of Lucan, working with over 40 therapists offering a variety of counselling for adults, teens, families and children.
Aspens Counselling and Family Life Centre
Provides afforable counselling for various issues including adolescent counselling, addictions, childhood trauma, emotional crisis, depression, anxiety, bereavement/loss, eating disorders, anger mangement, minfulness and so on.
Aspergers Anonymous
Aspergers Anonymous® is a fellowship of people with Asperger Syndrome and their families that offers free regular meetings and a programme to practice social interactions, acceptance and positive thinking.
A youth club for young people with Aspergers meets regularly.
Aspire
Supports individuals diagnosed with asperger syndrome, operate a family inclusive model to support the sutistic individual and their support nework. Advocate for autistic people and provide them with tools to advocate for themselves
Aster Family Resource Centre
Aster Family Resource Centre (FRC) have locations in Balbriggan and Coolock and it serves Artane, Balbriggan, Baldoyle, Ballyboghill, Coolock, Darndale, Garristown, Howth, Lusk, Malahide, Oldtown, Portmarnock, Raheny, Rush, Santry, Skerries, Swords and The Naul. The FRC works with communities and individuals to improve outcomes around parent and family support. The FRC offers a donation-based counselling service to those over the age of 18 as well as play therapy for children.
Athlone Family Resource Centre
Aim to create a community where people from Athlone can engage in all elmenets of family and community life, develop resilience and manage life challenges effectively. Provide a variety of therapy services such as Meitheal, family support, bereavement support, non-violent resistance, adolescent counselling, play therapy
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.