HSE Library: Mental Health LibGuide: Useful links

Mental health support services and charities

Age & Opportunity Age & Opportunity is the leading national development organisation working to enable the best possible quality of life for us all as we age.
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is the leading dementia-specific service provider in Ireland. The ASI works across the country in the heart of local communities, providing dementia-specific services and supports and advocating for the rights and needs of all people living with dementia and their carers.
Aware Aware is a voluntary organisation based in Ireland which aims to assist people affected by depression, bipolar disorder and related mood conditions.
Bodywhys Bodywhys, the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland, is the national voluntary organisation supporting people affected by eating disorders.
Cork Solace Cafe Solace Café is a FREE out-of-hours mental health service offering peer support in our community when other services are not available.
Gamblers Anonymous Ireland Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling.
Grow Free Mental Health Support from a community of people drawn together by their first-hand experiences of overcoming mental health challenges.
HSE Mental Health
Irish Hospice Foundation Free Bereavement Support Line, in partnership with the HSE, is there if you're grieving and need comfort, connection and support right now.
Jigsaw Jigsaw offers both online and in centre services around the country; advice and support is made available to young people aged 12–25 years-old. They give families, educators, and those who support young people’s mental health ways to cope and the skills to be there for young people.
Mental Health Ireland Mental Health Ireland was established to promote and enhance mental health, wellbeing and recovery for all individuals and communities. They aim to support people with lived experience of mental health challenges and their supporters and family members in their recovery.
Narcotics Anonymous Ireland Anyone who wants to stop using drugs may become a member of Narcotics Anonymous. Membership is not limited to addicts using any particular drug. Those who feel they may have a problem with drugs, legal or illegal, including alcohol, are welcome in NA. Recovery in NA focuses on the problem of addiction, not on any particular drug.
Shine Shine - Supporting People Affected by Mental Ill Health (previously known as Schizophrenia Ireland) is the national organisation dedicated to upholding the rights and addressing the needs of all those affected by enduring mental illness including, but not exclusively, schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder and bi-polar disorder, through the promotion and provision of high-quality services and working to ensure the continual enhancement of the quality of life of the people it serves. Shine has offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Tullamore, Ennis and Dundalk.
Social Anxiety Ireland SAI aim to help to inform those who experience social anxiety on the underlying mechanisms of the disorder, and to provide them with the tools necessary to alleviate their distress and functionally engage with life – whilst instilling hope that change is indeed possible, and providing support for their journey. To this end they provide support and active intervention group programmes for individuals experiencing social anxiety.

Mental health regulatory and research organisations

Mental Health Commission he Mental Health Commission is an independent body formed in 2002. Its functions were established by the Mental Health Act 2001 to regulate and inspect mental health services in Ireland. It is the facilitator of the Mental health tribunal system in Ireland.
National Office for Suicide Prevention The HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) supports the implementation of Connecting for Life, Ireland's National Strategy to Reduce Suicide.
National Suicide Research Foundation The National Suicide Research Foundation is an independent, multi-disciplinary research unit that investigates the causes of suicide and self-harm in Ireland.
Centre for Mental Health & Community Research The only centre in Ireland undertaking applied interdisciplinary mental health and well-being research across the lifespan and in a community context. They also investigate, in all of our research, the role of individual, familial, social, economic and environmental factors in shaping health outcomes.
Assitsted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 Part 1 - Adults Part 2 - Children and Adolescents (no changes)

Psychopharmacology and related drug information sources

Choice and Medication This website is aimed at helping patients make an informed decision about their treatment, with help and advice on mental health conditions and the medication used to treat them.
Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) HPRA publish and maintain an up-to-date list of a medicines shortages impacting the Irish market. The information they provide is to help keep patients and healthcare professionals informed of current and resolved shortages. Also useful for for the product license (licensed indications, contraindications, doses in renal impairment, etc.).

Advocacy services

Peer Advocacy in Mental Health (previously Irish Advocacy Network) The Irish Advocacy Network CLG (now trading as Peer Advocacy in Mental Health) is an island-wide, independent, mental health organisation led by people with personal experience of mental health challenges.
National Advocacy Service (Physical & Intellectual Disabilities) The National Advocacy Service (NAS) is an organisation which helps adults with disabilities. If you have a disability, like a physical or intellectual disability, one of our staff could help you with an issue you are having. NAS provides a free and confidential advocacy service to adults with a disability, aged 18 years and over.

Useful Apps & Toolkits

Mental Health Assessment Tools Mental Health Assessment Tools (2012) compiled by Laois Offaly Longford Westmeath Mental Health Services.
HSE Eating Disorders App t is important to note that this Eating Disorders Self Care and Information App is not a treatment programme or a replacement for medical advice. For advice on how to access health care support for eating disorders please contact your local GP.
MHC Headspace Toolkit for CAMHS The purpose of the toolkit - which was developed in consultation with young people with the aim of being age-appropriate and accessible - is to support and empower young people who need to use mental health services – particularly those who need to go into hospital.
Mindfulness - Headpace Lear the basics of meditation with the ten free 10-mins a day programme. Guided meditation.
Mindfulness - Smiling Mind (FREE) Smiling Mind is Australia’s leading digital-led, prevention focussed mental health not-for-profit and the innovators behind Australia’s most trusted mental wellbeing app. The Smiling Mind App is a free tool, developed by psychologists and educators and downloaded by millions of people.
Stress Management - Breathe: relax and focus (FREE) Breathe is a tool for mindfulness and relaxation, offering 3 default breathing exercises and allows you to create your own custom breathing patterns: Equal Breathing, Box Breathing, and 4-7-8 Breathing (also called “The Relaxing Breath”)