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Dublin: 15 °C Saturday 25 May, 2013

HSE developing plan to save mental health service

The Save Jigsaw Kerry Group said yesterday that staff at the youth mental health service had been put on notice with no commitment to a continuation of services.

Image: Shawn Carpenter via Flickr

THE HEALTH SERVICE Executive (HSE) said today it is working to develop a transition plan to ensure Jigsaw Kerry, a mental health programme which works with young people, can continue to meet the needs of the local community.

The Save Jigsaw Kerry Group said yesterday that staff working for the service were on notice and the young people of Kerry had been given no commitment that the Jigsaw Kerry Hub would still be open after 14 September when the current funding plan ends.

The programme which has been in existence since 2009 works with young people, communities and local services to change the way people think about youth mental health. It is supported by both the HSE and Headstrong.

In a statement today the HSE said it had commissioned an independent review of the operation of Jigsaw Kerry, in partnership with Headstrong.

“This review examined the future sustainability of Jigsaw Kerry and made recommendations around how best to continue to support young people and their mental health needs in County Kerry.”

The HSE said it is committed to the future of the programme and to developing “appropriate transition arrangements” for the project so it can continue its work in the future.

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Comments (8 Comments)

  • Thank you to The Journal for running this important local piece. People please follow @savejigsawkerry and give it a RT. we are young people trying make sure we have a place to turn to in tought times

    Reply
  • #ashtag 22/08/12 #

    Thank you for highlighting such an important issue for the young people of Kerry. Here’s hoping the Save Jigsaw Kerry campaign can ensure that us young people will have the support we need in our locality.

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  • Jigsaw Kerry are there for people at a young age. The young people of Kerry have somewhere safe to go to discuss problems and stresses in their lives. It is vital that this age group is catered for and get that all important listening ear in their locality. Dont take this away from them. Keep it open and keep funding available. Please.

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  • a vital service that must not be allowed to close. a great campaign has been waged by the group to highlight their plight and with public support they have a chance to retain the service. its very easy to remove and close these vital services but so difficult to find alternatives.

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  • They first want a plan to save themselves

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  • Jigsaw Kerry is a vital service which offers support to the young people of Kerry. Through its existence it has catered for many young people aged 12-25 and no issue was ever too small or minor. Everyone is welcomed in wether the individual stays with the service for a short or long time. Jigsaw Kerry is a service that provides so much to so many people and its existence has had a positive knock on affect to so many homes, schools and businesses. I’m sure the closure of this service would affect these exact same people in an extremely negative way. Jigsaw Kerry has broken down the stigma of youth mental health and mental health in general. Please do not let they’re hard work and commitment to the project be undone or go unnoticed due to a lack of funding. #SaveJigsawKerry

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  • How much does it cost to sit a few kids down and talk to them?

    One would imagine not enough to warrant all this funding anyway..

    Reply

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