Suicide an issue for 1 in 10 young people presenting to Jigsaw

One in 10 young people who used a service offered by youth mental health organisation Headstrong last year reported thoughts of suicide.

Figures in Headstrong’s annual report result from information from the 2,571 anonymous young people who used its Jigsaw service last year.

Jigsaw provides direct prevention and early intervention mental-health support to people between 12 and 25.

One in six people who presented to Jigsaw in 2013 reported anxiety, tension, worry while 10 per cent expressed feelings of depression.

Anger issues were reported in 11 per cent of cases; 10 per cent of young people presented with family problems; while isolation from others and withdrawal were factors in another 10 per cent of cases with some reporting multiple issues.

Psychological distress

Analysis found that 89 per cent of people presenting to Jigsaw had clinical levels of psychological distress. However, more than two-thirds of 12- to 16-year-olds and 85 per cent of 17- to 25-year-olds showed a reduction in psychological distress after receiving support.

Chairwoman of Headstrong Dr Sheelah Ryan said concerns about young people’s mental health was one of the biggest issues facing Irish families.

She welcomed the finding that a third of referrals were made directly by parents while one in five presentations was the result of direct contact by the affected person.

Wellbeing

“The self-referral figure is significant and tells us that when we remove barriers, such as fees or the necessity for a GP letter, we empower and enable access to a youth-friendly, clinically robust service,” she said.

Dr Ryan said the lack of fees or need for a GP referral was “crucial” as younger people seeking help was “clearly associated with lower mental-health distress and more positive wellbeing”.

She said it was also encouraging that the figures showed high levels of male participation: 43 per cent of those who availed of services in 2013 were boys and young men.

“However,” she said, “depression was still something that young adults were least likely to talk to others about.”

Founding director of Headstrong Dr Tony Bates said every community needed help to support young people's mental health, adding that "intervening early can save lives".

“If we don’t intervene now, as a country, and make our young people’s mental health a national priority we are just storing up and escalating entrenched mental-health issues for the future,” Dr Bates said.

The Jigsaw programme, which Headstrong operates in conjunction with the HSE and other partners, provides access to youth-friendly, integrated mental-health support in 10 locations nationwide.

Clients meet with a member of a clinical team who determines what level of support they need.

Jigsaw is in Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon and in several locations in Dublin: Clondalkin, Tallaght, Dublin 15 and north Fingal.

To contact the Samaritans, call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.