A MENTAL HEALTH charity has now received HSE support to offer a free online counselling service.

Turn2Me.org is an Irish website that offers people who are experiencing mental health difficulties the facility to speak with trained mental health professionals online.

Co-Founder Oisin Scollard told TheJournal.ie that a pilot programme was received very well by both those taking part and by medical professionals, which prompted the HSE to provide funding.

The Engage programme will comprise of eight weeks of free professional counselling, targeted at those aged between 25 to 60.

Scollard added that this demographic was chosen as it can seen as lacking sufficient mental health supports.

It can also help people in remote areas, who are housebound, or who may lack the confidence to approach a professional in real life.

“Our goal is to be a Lifeline Online and save lives to suicide”, he said.

In these difficult times access to services can for some be difficult. Now we are in a position to provide free counselling to people in Ireland between 25 and 45.

People can refer themselves to the Engage programme, or could be directed to it by their GP.

The above link outlines certain situations where people need face-to-face support.

Helplines:

• Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

• Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634

• Console 1800 201 890

• Aware 1890 303 302

• Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie

• Childline 1800 66 66 66

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