Calls for extra funding for mental health charity
By Mary Dennehy
ADDITIONAL funding calls for youth mental health charity Jigsaw have been made, after it emerged that there is currently a 13-week waiting time for an appointment at Jigsaw Tallaght and seven weeks for Jigsaw Clondalkin.
Figures released by the HSE through a Parliamentary Question highlighted the waiting times for an appointment across Jigsaw’s 13 centres nationwide.
Jigsaw in Clondalkin
The waiting times listed range from one week in Kerry right up to 13 weeks in Tallaght – the highest nationally – with a seven-week wait noted for Jigsaw Clondalkin.
Focusing on 12- to 25-year-olds, Jigsaw adopts an early intervention model which provides ‘tangible supports for young people before they reach the point of acquiring a formal mental health diagnosis’.
Data released by Jigsaw in its Annual Report 2017 noted that anxiety was the most common mental health difficulty among those using its services in 2017.
The number of young people presenting with anxiety was 39 per cent, a seven per cent increase in just three years.
Other common mental health difficulties included, low mood (31 per cent), sleep changes/issues (17 per cent), anger (15 per cent), family problems (14.5 per cent), isolation/withdrawal (14 per cent), self-criticism (12 per cent), low self-esteem (12 per cent) and thought of self-harm (11 per cent).
Relationship difficulties, family breakdowns, bullying, exam stress, isolation and peer pressure were all seen as common contributory factors.
Extended waiting periods
According to Dublin South West TD Sean Crowe (Sinn Fein): “We are continually told by every expert in child and adolescent mental health that early intervention is absolutely vital in avoiding, enduring, and worsening problems in the future.
“Yet, these figures reveal that if a child or young person seeks out care they are in all likelihood going to be faced with extended waiting periods.
“This is simply unacceptable and puts their mental health at very serious risk.
“We now need to see funding increased in the next Budget to match the demand for the Jigsaw service.”
County Mayor and Clondalkin councillor Mark Ward (Sinn Féin) has also called for additional resources for Jigsaw.
“We know that when CAMHS [Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services] and Jigsaw are able to assess and care for young people they do an excellent job with often extremely good results,” Mayor Ward said.
“However, this is often not possible because of shortages in funding, neglect of services by government, and the pervading recruitment and retention crisis in the health service.
Lifesaving treatment
“We need to see funding increased to match demand for the Jigsaw service . . . this is quite literally lifesaving treatment and is currently not readily available for those who need it.”
A registered charity, Jigsaw’s base services are funded by the HSE – with additional programmes and supports, such as online services, made possible by public and corporate donations.
A spokesman for Jigsaw told The Echo that the charity is currently recruiting for clinical staff and is also investing in its online services – as not all young people want to visit the service’s local hubs.
Commenting on the waiting times, the spokesman said: “The situation is not ideal, however, we are trying to invest in extra resources.”
He added: “We work with other charities and the HSE and are always in discussions on the best way to support young people.
“We also do a lot of work with schools and GAA clubs and provide training for adults in building support in the community.
“This is part of our outreach work, building capacity in the community so a young person has the right support at the right time.”
Plans are underway to relocate Jigsaw Tallaght to larger premises with more space.
For further details on Jigsaw visit www.jigsaw.ie or call Jigsaw Tallaght on 4649350 or Jigsaw Clondalkin on 5380087.
Any young person who would like to speak with someone confidentially now can call Childline on 1800 66 66 66, the Samaritans on 116123 or TeenLine, which is open from 8pm to 11pm seven days a week, on 1800 833 634.
