Rise in young Galway people seeking help for mental health

A SIGNIFICANT rise has been seen in the number of young people seeking mental health support in Galway with inward referrals increasing by over 28 per cent.

This is according to the figures released by national youth mental health charity Jigsaw, which showed that referrals to specific mental health services in Galway increased from 483 between January and June 2025 to 619 in the same period this year.

Jigsaw provides free early intervention mental health services to children and young people aged 12 to 25 years, helping them navigate challenges including anxiety, depression, loneliness and isolation.

Nationally, the total inward referrals to Jigsaw’s 15 local services and Jigsaw Online increased by 39 per cent in the first half of 2026.

During the first half of this year, Jigsaw provided 29,004 direct clinical contacts.

CEO of Jigsaw Dr Joseph Duffy said the latest figures showed “the increasing pressure facing young people across Ireland” and stressed that early intervention and access to free support in local communities had never been more important.

The charity is partnering with Applegreen in a bid to raise a minimum of €1 million over the next three years.