Everyone needs help from time to time and there is nothing wrong with asking for it. It may help to talk to a friend, family member or someone else you trust. They can also support you in finding professional advice and help if you need it. 

If you don’t want to talk to someone you know, try one of many support organisations that will be more than willing to help. These include free helplines, text support services, websites, drop-in centres, support groups, counselling and also services that offer immediate help in a crisis, some 24 hours a day.

When looking for help

It’s important to tell all the facts about your problem. Try not to be put off if services are busy, unable to help straight away or seem different to what you were expecting. Hang in there. You have a right to be listened to and to receive the help you need. If a particular service can’t help, ask them who can. 

If you want your problem kept confidential, remember to ask if this is possible. In situations of abuse or violence this is unlikely because of worries about your safety and those of others who might be at risk of harm too. Don’t let this put you off. You have a right to be safe. Organisations are obliged to report these issues so that young people can get the help and protection they need.

www.childline.ie
ChildLine gives support to young people through a freephone 24 hour listening service and through it’s website. All calls are free of charge and confidential. 
Freephone Helpline: 1800 666 666 
Text support: Text list to 50101 (This is an automated free text support service)

www.citizensinformation.ie 
The Citizens Information Service provides free information about all public services in Ireland.
Lo-call 1890 777 121

www.fsa.ie
The Family Support Agency supports Family Resource Centres, marriage/ relationship, bereavement & child counselling services and operates the Family Mediation Service.

www.familyresource.ie
The Family Resource Centre National Forum is a national representative body working with Family Resource Centres located in communities throughout Ireland.

www.ispcc.ie
Teenfocus is a support service to teenagers 13–18 who are experiencing difficulties. It is run by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

www.letsomeoneknow.ie
This is an Irish website for teenagers covering a range of different issues relevant to teenagers’ lives.

www.spunout.ie
This is an online interactive support and information service for young people. It covers a range of issues relevant to young peoples’ lives and provides useful signposts to support services available. *

www.teengrowth.com
Teengrowth is an interactive website providing information on the general health interests and well-being of teenagers.

www.teenline.ie 
Teen-Line Ireland is a confidential helpline service for teenagers, dealing with any problems or worries they are experiencing. 
Freephone helpline: 1800 833 634

www.teenspace.ie 
Teenspace is a national website that provides information on events, activities and recreation services for young people aged 12–18 years.

www.youthinformation.ie
Youth Information Centres. Based in many towns and cities

www.youth.ie
The National Youth Council of Ireland is a representative body for voluntary national youth organisations. It can help you to find youth services in your area.

For information about your rights contact:

www.childrensrights.ie
The Children’s Rights Alliance works to secure the rights and needs of children and young people in Ireland.

www.oco.ie
The Ombudsman for Children Office helps to ensure that the government and other professionals and organisations which make decisions about young people, put their needs and rights first.

www.epiconline.ie

Empowering People in Care

www.dailnanog.ie 
Dáil na nOg is the national youth parliament of Ireland

www.aware.ie 
Aware is an organisation that provides information and emotional support to those who experience depression, and their families.

www.console.ie 
Console promotes positive mental health within the community in an effort to reduce the high number of attempted suicides and deaths through suicide.
FREEPHONE: 1800 201 890

www.grow.ie helps people who have suffered, or are suffering from mental health problems

www.headsup.ie
This is a 24-hour text support and information service provided by Rehab. Text the word ‘Headsup’ to 50424. A list of topics will be sent to you. Choose a topic and you will instantly be sent a list of confidential Helpline numbers, including where to go for help in a crisis.

www.headstrong.ie 
Headstrong works with communities to ensure that young people in Ireland are better supported to achieve mental health and well-being. Jigsaw / in conjunction with Headstrong is a community-based service actively supporting young people to achieve positive mental health and well-being

www.mentalhealthireland.ie
This is a national voluntary organisation which aims to promote mental health and support persons with a mental illness

www.nosp.ie
National office for Suicide Prevention. Can help to provide information about support services in your area.

www.pieta.ie 
Pieta House is a centre that offers help to people thinking about suicide or self-harm.

www.samaritans.org
The Samaritans is a 24-hour, confidential support service for anyone who is experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those who have thoughts of suicide, and want someone to talk to.
Call save: 1850 60 90 90

ie.reachout.com
Reachout.com offers information and support to young people going through a tough time.

www.belongto.org is an organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered young people.

www.crisispregnancy.ie
Crisis Pregnancy Agency offers information on Irish pregnancy counselling

Waterford Student Mothers’ Group Ltd supports young mothers and young expectant mothers in Waterford City and Tramore to remain in second level education and to progress to further training, education and into the workplace.  The Project Worker can be contacted at Tel: 051 844220 Mobile: 0876472019 Email: info@wsm.barnardos.ie

www.onefamily.ie
One Family supports all members of one parent families in Ireland

www.treoir.ie 
Treoir provides information on support services for teenage parents

www.bodywhys.ie
Bodywhys offers support, information and understanding for people with eating disorders.

www.eatingdisorderselfhelp.com
Iceberg is a website dedicated to supporting sufferers of eating distress and eating disorders along the path to recovery.

www.teencounselling.ie
Teen Counselling is a professional counselling service provided through Crosscare, for 12–18 year olds and their parents.

www.fsa.ie
The Family Mediation Service is a free mediation service, operated by the Family Support Agency, to assist couples to negotiate the terms of their separation.

www.rainbowsireland.com 
Rainbows ‘Spectrum Programme’ is a service that runs support programmes for young people who have experienced separation or divorce. The ‘Spectrum Programme’ is specifically for 12-18 year olds.

www.teenbetween.ie
Teen Between is a free specialised counselling service to help 12–18 year olds deal with their parent’s separation or divorce. The service is also provided throughout the country by Youth Work Ireland www.youthworkireland.ie

You have a right to be safe. 
If ever you don’t feel safe –

• Talk to an adult who you trust

• Contact Childline for information and support
  Freephone Helpline: 1800 666 666
  Childline Online: www.childline.ie
  Text support: Text list to 50101

• Contact CARI
  Cari provides a confidential help line service for anyone with concerns about sexual abuse of a child or young person. CARI also provides a counselling service. 
  Lo-call helpline: 1890 924567
  www.cari.ie
  E-mail: helpline@cari.ie

• Contact a social worker at your local HSE health centre. For details of services in your area, contact: HSE Infoline
  Lo-call 1850 24 1850
  www.hse.ie

• Contact the Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 or your local domestic abuse support service or refuge.
  www.womensaid.ie
  Email: info@womensaid.ie
  Contact the Gardaí at your local Garda station

• Contact www.youth.ie , the National Youth Council of Ireland Child Protection Unit

• See the section on Keeping Safe
• www.womensaid.ie
  Contact the Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 or your local domestic abuse support service or refuge.

www.barnardos.ie
Barnardos Bereavement Counselling for Children is a service for children and young people run by Barnardos.

Dublin
Tel: 01 453 0355 Email: bereavement@barnardos.ie

Cork
Tel: 021 431 0591 Email: bereavement@cork.barnardos.ie

Barnardos Bereavement Helpline 
Tel: 01 4732110 (Monday–Friday 10am-12noon)

The Bereavement Counselling Service
Administration Office, Dublin Street, Baldoyle, Dublin 13
Tel: 01 8391766 

www.console.ie 
Console supports and helps people bereaved through suicide. 
FREEPHONE: 1800 201 890

www.rainbowsireland.com 
Rainbows ‘Spectrum Programme’ is a service that runs support group programmes for young people who have experienced loss due to bereavement or separation/ divorce. The ‘Spectrum Programme’ is specifically for 12-18 year olds. 

The following are interactive information and support sites for young people dealing with a bereavement:

www.skylight.org.nz
www.winstonswish.org.uk/
www.rd4u.org.uk/
www.dougy.org/help/help-for-teens
www.tcf.org.uk/
www.missyou.org.uk/ (memorial website)