Useful Links for Parents

Anxiety and young people

Webinar: Supporting student anxiety

Maintaining school connection during Covid-19

Webinar: Self-care for teachers

Urgent Help

Jigsaw is not a crisis service. If you or someone you know needs immediate help take action contacting one of the services below.

But, if you need immediate assistance, especially if someone is hurt or in danger call the emergency services straight away. Emergency services can be contacted at any time by dialling 999 or 112 in Republic of Ireland or 112 in Europe.

Speak with Samaritans directly, they are a helpline and provide a free listening service.

Phone: 116 123 (available 24 hours a day and free to call from Ireland)

Samaritans Ireland also offer an email service – jo@samaritans.org.

Text 50808

Text 50808 is a free 24/7 text service, where you connect with a trained Crisis Volunteer. The Crisis Volunteer will introduce themselves, reflect on what you’ve said, and invite you to share at your own pace. You’ll text back and forth, only sharing what you feel comfortable with.

Text HELLO to 50808

Pieta House is a suicide prevention service. They offer counselling in centres around Ireland and have a 24/7 crisis helpline.

Freephone 1800 247 247

Text help to 51444

If you need support with your own mood or the mood of a friend or family member:

  • Free-phone 1800 80 48 48 (from 10am to 10pm daily).
  • Email supportmail@aware.ie for a response within 24 hours.

If you need confidential messaging support at any time, day or night:

Text TALK to 086 1800 280 (standard rates may apply).

The HSE has a full list of online, phone and text mental health services.

You should try to keep in touch with friends and family through phone calls, video calls or texts with friends. Social media can also be useful for keeping in touch during the emergency period. However, if you feel as if social media is adding to your worries, consider taking a break from it.

Resources for exercising at home

If you would like to do some exercise at home, there are many resources to help.

Age & Opportunity broadcasts a series of 15-minute seated exercise sessions for older adults online. You can watch the exercise sessions live on Facebook at 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You can also watch previous sessions on YouTube.

Cara Centre has also put together a series of 10-minute circuits that can be done at home or in your garden. The series includes adapted exercises for wheelchair users or people with reduced mobility. You can access these exercises every week.

Triathlon Ireland has shared a selection of at-home workout videos too. While you might not be able to swim, bike or run, the videos include at-home strength sessions and nutrition advice. You can watch the exercise sessions on YouTube.

You can find more exercise resources on the Sport Ireland website.

Accident and Emergency

Go to, or contact, the Accident and Emergency Department of your nearest general hospital if you are in immediate danger.