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 Work Ireland Louth
Endevour to alleviate disadvantage and social exclusion by highlighting the needs specific to those most at risk in these areas. Aims to support the young people of Louth through social interaction, engagement and signposting and providing clear pathways to main stream services and services such as youth clubs and detached youth work.
Youth Work Ireland Midlands
Youth Work Ireland Midlands, in partnership with Young people and their communities aims to Develop, coordinate and promote a comprehensive response to youth needs throughout Westmeath, Offaly and Roscommon. Youth Work Ireland Midlands’ youth clubs provide young people with a safe place where they have a sense of belonging, where they have people who believe in them, and a place where they can form positive relationships with adults. They exist to assist in the personal and social development of young people so as to enable them take decisions, exercise responsibility and contribute towards the development of society.
Youth Work Ireland Midlands
Youth Work Ireland Midlands, in partnership with Young people and their communities aims to Develop, coordinate and promote a comprehensive response to youth needs throughout Westmeath, Offaly and Roscommon. Youth Work Ireland Midlands’ youth clubs provide young people with a safe place where they have a sense of belonging, where they have people who believe in them, and a place where they can form positive relationships with adults. They exist to assist in the personal and social development of young people so as to enable them take decisions, exercise responsibility and contribute towards the development of society.
Youth Work Ireland Midlands
Youth Work Ireland Midlands, in partnership with Young people and their communities aims to Develop, coordinate and promote a comprehensive response to youth needs throughout Westmeath, Offaly and Roscommon. Youth Work Ireland Midlands’ youth clubs provide young people with a safe place where they have a sense of belonging, where they have people who believe in them, and a place where they can form positive relationships with adults. They exist to assist in the personal and social development of young people so as to enable them take decisions, exercise responsibility and contribute towards the development of society.
Youth Work Ireland North Connaught
Affiliated to Youth Work Ireland, YWINC is a regional youth service provider covering Sligo, Leitrim and Mayo. It aims to support the development of young people, to enable them to take greater control of their own lives by making decisions and exercising responsibility and contributing to the development of both their community and their society. It runs a number of projects in Mayo including the North Mayo Youth Project and Youth Action projects in Castlebar and Ballina.
Youth Work Ireland North Connaught
Youth Work Ireland North Connaught is a regional youth service covering Sligo, Leitrim and Mayo and they run the Leitrim Youth Project, which is a ‘Your Place Your Space’ (UBU) project based in Drumshanbo. The project works with young people aged 10–24 years across the county. A range of approaches are used to support the development and well-being of young people. Youth clubs/cafés and projects in County Leitrim offer a menu of ever-growing activities driven by the members’ interests and needs. This menu might include many different activities under the headings of sports, culture, recreation, arts, personal development, education and trips and exchanges.
Youth Work Ireland Tipperary
Engaging young people in social and personal development issues. Addressing family/relationship issues, education, substance misuse, offending behaviour, and health. Targeting young people aged 10-24. Various locations around Tipperary- Thurles, Templemore, Cashel, Killenaule/Fethard
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.