A Mental Health Resource for Youth Workers and Volunteers health related problems. Try visiting the following websites to find out where counselling and support services are provided, www.youthworkireland.ie and www.crosscare.ie (Dublin only) and www.ispcc.ie/Services/Teenfocus.aspx and www.jigsaw.ie
Private providers
There is a large network of private practitioners located
throughout the country. They either operate as sole practitioners or as part of a practice with a number of other providers. All practitioners should be accredited with one of the many counselling or psychotherapy bodies in the Republic of Ireland. However it should be noted that there is a lack of regulation in this area. Many practitioners will have skills and an interest in working with young people, and are often part of a practice team. You can go to www.counsellingdirectory.ie to find out who provides services in your local area. Many will charge full fees to provide counselling or psychotherapy, but a number are funded to provide low cost or subsidised counselling, which means the young person or family member will only pay a nominal fee or, in some instances, the fee will be waived.
Community providers There are a number of community-based counselling services, often located in rural and remote parts of the country which provide low -or no-cost counselling services to young people or family members (or both). These can sometimes be found on the counselling directory website above, or through the Family Support Agency (FSA). The FSA website lists a range of services and supports provided in each county throughout the country. To find out more, go to www.fsa.ie
Third level education institutions Almost all third level educational institutions across the Republic of Ireland provide comprehensive student health, counselling and pastoral care services for students enrolled within the institution, be it a University, College or Institute of Technology. In most cases, the services are free and can be accessed by students who may be experiencing the onset of a mental health problem. Visit www.pleasetalk.ie which provides a campus-specific directory of counselling and related services in third level institutions.
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