Jigsaw: Engaging communities in the development and implementation of youth mental health services and supports in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

Background: Irish young people exhibit high levels of psychological distress, but community-based services and supports are often unavailable or inaccessible.

Aim: To describe efforts to engage communities in systematic and data-based processes of planning, programme design, implementation, and evaluation.

Method: Details system-building initiatives in five communities (four counties and a distressed urban site) that will serve as a springboard for full national deployment.

Results: Extensive community engagement and planning has occurred in all sites, systems change efforts grounded in detailed business plans have begun, and process and outcome evaluation is underway.

Conclusion: Needs and resource assessment processes confirmed the magnitude of need, but also suggested the creative re-allocation of local resources. Young people provided invaluable guidance for system design. Creating and sustaining a culture of innovation at each site was challenging, requiring leadership and continuous dialogue.

Keywords:

• Community services
• youth mental health
• programme development
• community engagement

Declaration of interest: Work described in this article was made possible by philanthropic contributions by the One Foundation (Dublin, Ireland), funding from the Irish Government through Pobal (an intermediate charitable organization), and a contract with youngballymun (a multi-strand project in north Dublin funded by the Office of the Minister for Children and Atlantic Philanthropies). No financial relationships pose a conflict of interest.