NEED HELP?

Sometimes it can prove hard to even rise to the making the small changes that can make a huge difference to our lives. Many people experience depression or anxiety and may not have the energy even to contemplate the strategies needed. In such circumstances it’s important not to lose hope. Thousands of people experience these mental health challenges and there are lots of supports and interventions to alleviate such symptoms. Maybe, the best decision you could make would be to seek help. Help is out there.

Accessing counselling:
If you are thinking about arranging an appointment with a counsellor, ask about their qualifications and whether they are registered with an accrediting body. You can find information on accreditation at CounsellingDirectory.ie.

A  G.P. can also recommend counselling services in your area. These might include free, low cost or private options. I think a recommendation from a G.P. is a very good idea because he or she would have a working relationship with this professional and refers patents to him/her because of positive feedback.

A list of competently qualified chartered psychologists can be found on www.psychologicalsociety.ie. You should select either clinical or counselling in the ‘Find a Psychologist’ section and then select  your preferred county/location.

Other options include:

Counselling in primary care
Medical card holders aged 18 and over can access counselling in primary care, if your
G.P. thinks it would be of benefit. This is a short-term service offering up to eight sessions with a counsellor. This counselling is suitable for those with mild and moderate depression and other mental health difficulties.

Community and non-statutory services
Many community and non-statutory organisations offer free or low-cost counselling.

Minding your Wellbeing

Free series of online video resources to learn and practice key elements of mental wellbeing such as mindfulness, gratitude, self-care and resilience from HSE Health and Wellbeing.

Visit www.yourmentalhealth.ie

Turn2Me

Free online counselling and online support groups for people over 18
Visit turn2me.org

MyMind

Online counselling service
Visit mymind.org
hq@mymind.org

Shine

Remote support and an outreach service to people who use Shine services by phone and email.
Visit shine.ie/covid-19
phil@shine.ie

Suicide or Survive (SOS)

Free online wellness workshops and programmes
Visit suicideorsurvive.ie

Stress Control

Stress control classes to learn new stress management skills and mind your mental health from HSE Health and Wellbeing.
The programme is for 3 weeks on Mondays and Thursdays and commences again from Monday 2 November 2020.

Visit HSE Health and Wellbeingfor more information.

Clanwilliam Institute

Individual, couple and family therapy sessions online and phone.
Visit clanwilliam.ie
reception@clanwilliam.ie

Helplink Mental Health

Free low-cost online counselling services and educational resources.

Visit helplink.ie

Phone, email and text support

Connect Counselling

An anonymous professional telephone counselling service for survivors of physical, emotional and sexual abuse including former residents of Mother and Baby Homes.

Visit www.connectcounselling.ie
Freephone 1800 477 477Monday to Sunday from 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm.

Samaritans

Emotional support to anyone in distress or struggling to cope.
Freephone 116 123 every day 24 hours a day
jo@samaritans.ie

Pieta House

Telephone and text-based support counselling for people who are suicidal or engaging in self-harm.
Freephone 1800 247 247 every day 24 hours a day
Text HELP to 51444 – standard message rates apply
Visit pieta.ie

Aware

Information and support to anyone over 18. Issues relating to mood or the mood of a friend or family member, or who has depression or bipolar.

Phone ‘Support and Self Care Peer Group’ for people experiencing:

  • anxiety
  • mild to moderate depression
  • bipolar disorder
  • mood-related conditions

Freephone support line 1800 80 48 48 10am to 10pm every day
supportmail@aware.ie
Visit aware.ie

Irish Hospice Foundation

A freephone bereavement support line providing information, connection, comfort and support.

Phone 1800 807 077 Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm.

Visit hospicefoundation.ie for more information.

Text 50808

A free 24/7 text service, providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for people going through a mental health or emotional crisis.

Text HELLO to 50808, anytime day or night.

Visit www.text50808.ie for more information.

LGBT Ireland

LGBT+ helpline 1890 929 539every day
Gender identity family support line 01 907 3707
Online instant messaging support 6.30pm to 10pm Monday to Thursday, 4pm to 10pm Friday and 4pm to 6pm Saturday and Sunday.
info@lgbt.ie for support or information
Visit lgbt.ie

Mental Health Ireland

Information and support for people who experience mental health difficulties
Information line 01 284 1166from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Visit mentalhealthireland.ie
info@mentalhealthireland.ie

HSE Mental Health Recovery Colleges

Recovery education colleges and services provide mental health recovery education.
Timetables have been developed to support people through recovery education.
Visit Recovery Education

Grow Mental Health Recovery

Weekly online peer support groups. Podcasts, practical resources and information.

Visit grow.ie
info@grow.ie
Information line 1890 474 474

Together 4 Cancer Concern

Telephone support with cancer counsellors. Links to nationwide community cancer support centres and a team of clinical psychologists.

Freephone 1800 200 700

Visit the HSE National Cancer Control Programme for more information.

ADHD Ireland

Support and information for young people and adults with ADHD and their carers and families.
Phone 01 874 8349 from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday
Visit adhdireland.ie
info@adhdireland.ie

Inclusion Ireland

The National Association for People with an Intellectual Disability. Easy-read guides on coronavirus. These include one about good mental health for people with intellectual disabilities.
Visit inclusionireland.ie

Exchange House Ireland National Traveller Mental Health Service

Telephone and online services and supports are available while face-to-face and group services have stopped.
Call 01 8721094 and press 1 from 9am to 5pm every day
Visit exchangehouse.ie

Traveller Counselling Service

Online counselling to members of the Traveller community who need support during this time.
Visit travellercounselling.ie

Bodywhys

BodywhysConnect – online support groups for adults with eating disorders.
YouthConnect – online support groups for young people aged 13-18.
Helpline 01 2107906 Monday, Wednesday and Sunday from 7.30pm to 9.30pm and Saturday from 10.30am to 12.30pm
Visit bodywhys.ieor email alex@bodywhys.ie for support

Union of Students in Ireland

Tips and resources to keep your mind healthy.
Visit usi.ie

Practitioner Health

Confidential support and help for doctors, dentists and pharmacists.
Phone 01 297 0396
confidential@practitionerhealth.ie
Visit practitionerhealth.ie

College of Psychiatrists in Ireland

Short videos for families of young people with mental illness. These include measures that can help during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visit the College of Psychiatrists in Ireland.

Supports for younger people, their parents or guardians

Childline (ISPCC)

Ireland’s 24-hour national listening service for young people up to the age of 18.
Freephone 1800 666 666 any time.
Text 50101 from 10am to 4pm every day.
Chat online at childline.ieanytime

BeLonG To Youth Services

Support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI+) young people in Ireland.
Text LGBTI+ to 086 1800 280 to chat confidentially with a trained crisis volunteer anytime – standard SMS rates may apply.
While face-to-face services are closed, information, referral and advice is available by email, SMS, phone call or video conference.
Visit belongto.org for more information

Jigsaw

Mental health support and advice to young people aged 12 to 25 years old and parents or concerned adults.
Freephone 1800 544729 from 1pm to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Text CALL ME to 086 180 3880with your preferred day and time for a call.
help@jigsaw.ie – replies 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Visit jigsaw.ie or jigsawonline.ie

Barnardos

Telephone support for parents in response to the challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Freephone 1800 910 123 from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday.
Barnardos also provide a children’s bereavement helpline service.
Telephone 01 473 2110

10am to 12pm Monday to Thursday.

SpunOut.ie

Articles and information for young people on many different topics including mental health.
Text SPUNOUT to 086 1800 280to talk to a trained volunteer – standard message rates may apply.
Visit spunout.ie

Supports for older people

Alone

COVID-19 support line for older people.
Phone 0818 222 024 8am to 8pm everyday.
Visit alone.ie

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland

Information and emotional support and information on supports and services.
Freephone 1800 341 341Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm
helpline@alzheimer.ie

The Dementia Resource Hub provides sign-posting to information and on-line resources for people with dementia, families and carers.
Visit alzheimer.ie or understandtogether.ie

Grow Mental Health

Weekly online peer support groups. Podcasts, practical resources and information.

Visit grow.ie
info@grow.ie
Information line 1890 474 474

Seniorline

Confidential listening service for older people provided by trained older volunteers.
Call 1800 804 591 from 10am to 10pm everyday
Visit thirdageireland.ie

Age Friendly Ireland

A list of all Local Authority Community Response Forums and their contact helpline numbers to support vulnerable members of communities affected by COVID-19 restrictions.
Visit agefriendlyireland.ie/

Mobile apps

These mobile apps can help you manage anxiety. They have been approved for listing here by the HSE Mental Health Group.

The app developers are solely responsible for their compliance and fitness for purpose. These apps are not supplied by the HSE and the HSE is not liable for their use.

Mindshift (by Anxiety Canada)

MindShift CBT teaches about anxiety, helping users to engage in healthy thinking and to take action. Users check in each day to track their anxiety and work with tools in the app.

Headspace

Headspace is a well-known mobile app that teaches meditation and easy to use mindfulness skills. Map your journey and track your progress and ‘buddy up’ with friends and motivate each other.

Clear Fear

For teenage mental health charity Stem4. The app uses CBT to focus on learning to reduce the physical responses to threat by learning to breathe, relax and be mindful as well as changing thoughts and behaviours and releasing emotions. You can personalise the app and track your progress.

HSE Eating Disorder Self Help App

A self-care app for people:

  • with an eating disorder
  • caring for someone with an eating disorder
  • worried about developing an eating disorder
  • diagnosed or are recovering from an eating disorder

From the HSE National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders and Bodywhys.

Read more about the HSE Eating Disorder Self Help App.

24 hours a day, emotional support:

Samaritans
Free helpline:  116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Samaritans is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone struggling to cope. For confidential, non-judgemental support please call 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.ie for details of the nearest branch.

Self harm support:

Pieta House
Find your closest branch: www.pieta.ie/index.php/contact-us
Email: mary@pieta.ie
Pieta House offers specialised treatment to clients who self-harm, suffer from suicidal ideation or have made multiple suicide attempts. Clients receive an intensive programme of one-to-one counselling lasting about four to six weeks. Pieta House is a non-profit organisation and the service is free of charge.

Young people experiencing symptoms

If you are a young person, the organisations listed below provide lots of information and support for getting through life’s ups and downs.
Childline
Free helpline:  1800 666 666
Online Chat: www.childline.ie
Teentxt service: text the word “Talk” to 50101
Childline provides a free and confidential listening service to children and young people up to the age of 18. The Childline helpline is open every day, 24 hours a day and Childline Online Chat is open every day 10am – 10pm.

Jigsaw
Find Jigsaw projects: www.jigsaw.ie
Jigsaw is a network of programmes across Ireland designed to make sure every young person has somewhere to turn to and someone to talk to. There are Jigsaw projects in 10 communities including Clondalkin, Donegal, Dublin 15, Galway, Kerry, Meath, North Fingal, Offaly, Roscommon and Tallaght. You can take a virtual tour of Jigsaw here.

ReachOut.com
ReachOut.com helps young people get through tough times. By providing quality mental health information and covering issues that can impact our mental health, ReachOut.com takes the mystery out of mental health.

SpunOut.ie
The website, SpunOut.ie, carries a range of health information for young people, including mental health, sexual health, exam stress and general lifestyle information. SpunOut also has an extensive online directory allowing site visitors to search for supports and services in their area.

Problems with sleeping?

SLEEP ADVICE

I highly recommend mindfulness. Mindfulness is proven to be very effective for sleeplessness but the snag is that it has to be daily. It also takes time and patience to become ‘good’ at it. All studies confirm its benefits as a structured daily activity. The research is emphatic about it and I have spoken to many people who had difficulties with sleep until they started to practice mindfulness meditation on a regular basis. Courses (half-day and full-day sessions) are available at the Sanctuary centre in Dublin. The website is http://www.sanctuary.ie.

A book I recommend is: Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world by Prof Mark Williams/Dr. Danny Penman (comes with a CD)

The Sleep Clinic at Bon Secours, Dublin is worth considering if quality of life is significantly affected by sleeplessness. Here is the link
http://www.bonsecours.ie/insomnia-clinic

Sometimes there can be personal issues at the root of sleeplessness – hurts, worries or trauma. These can be deep-rooted from the past. The best place to resolve these issues is in one-to-one therapy. You’ll know yourself if this is something that you need to avail of. If it is – then you should liaise with your GP for his or her recommendation for a psychologist or counsellor. There is a list of psychologists for all the counties on the website http://www.psihq.ieYou’ll have to work at it. It’s a project where one tries to improve sleeplessness with various approaches. I am confident that you can improve your sleeping.