Mental health supports for college students in Ireland

This article was developed in partnership with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).

Starting college can be a new and exciting experience but it can also come with difficulties. Leaving secondary school or going into a new course where you do not know anyone can be a daunting experience and it can leave you feeling lonely and isolated. What is important to remember is that if you do experience a mental health difficulty during college, there are always mental health supports to help and that you are not alone. 

Your mental health is something that is always with you, but many people only associate mental health with experiencing a mental health difficulty. As with physical health, your mental health needs continuous care and attention to help keep it healthy. The idea of positive mental health is not that you will never experience a mental health difficulty, but that you can make choices to help promote overall health and wellbeing that can support you throughout your life.

Getting mental health support in college

If you would like some support with your mental health, or just need someone to talk to, find out about services available to you below.

If you access multiple services as part of your mental health care, it is recommended that you inform these services of one another so that they can work together to support you. This is called multidisciplinary, joined up or wrap-around care. Speak to your service provider in your college to discuss the best way to make this happen.

Seeing a college counsellor

If you experience a mental health difficulty while at college or if you would like to talk to someone about a past or current experience that may be negatively affecting your life, there will be supports available at your college to help you. Most of the colleges in Ireland offer free counselling to their students and provide online resources to help support students’ mental health wellbeing also.

You can also read our article on mental health supports available at third level to find out more about about the supports that your college may offer. College counsellors are part of the academic environment, so they will have specific knowledge on further supports available to you if your academic progress is being negatively impacted.

College Disability Service

If you have a diagnosed mental health condition, it is recommended that you get in touch with the college disability service. They provide a range of supports during your time in college. Find out more about college supports for students with disabilities.

Student Health Centre

Most colleges have an on-campus or close-to campus medical service. These usually provide no cost or low cost access to doctors and other health professionals. You will be able to find more information about your student health centre on your college’s website. If you are feeling worried about speaking to a GP (doctor) about your mental health, you can find more advice on how to do so in our article about going to see your GP for a mental health difficulty. 

Helplines for students

If you want in-the moment support, get in touch with a helpline:

Text About It 

Text About It is a first of its kind for Ireland. It is a free 24/7 text service, providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for people going through a mental health or emotional crisis – big or small. 

From breakups or bullying, to anxiety, depression and suicidal feelings, their Crisis Volunteers are available 24/7 for anonymous text conversations. Their aim is to provide immediate support in the short term and connect people to resources that will help them in the future.

Free-text  HELLO  to  50808  to begin.

NiteLine

NiteLine  is a listening, support and information service run by and for the students of:

• Dublin Business School (DBS)
• Maynooth University (MU)
• National College of Art and Design (NCAD)
• Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI)
• Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
• University College Dublin (UCD)
• Dun Laoghaire Institute Of Art Design + Technology (IADT)
• Dublin City University (DCU)
• Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT)
• Technological University Dublin (TUD)
• University of Limerick (UL)

Their volunteers go through a rigorous screening and training programme based on the Samaritans model and run with the help of the college counselling services.

Their services include:

• Available every night of college term
• Lines open 9pm – 2:30am
• Freephone:  1800 793 793

Samaritans

Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental support, 24 hours a fay for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.

Call for free on 116 123.

Pieta House

Pieta House  provides free therapy to those engaging in self-harm, with suicidal thoughts, or bereaved by suicide.

• Call Freephone on 1800 247 247
• TEXT HELP to 51444 (Standard message rates apply)
• Visit Pieta.ie  for more information

Free counselling services for young people

If you would like to see a counsellor outside of your college campus, these services are available:

Jigsaw

Jigsaw is a national centre for youth mental health, They focus on intervening early to support the mental health of those aged 12 to 25 years of age. Jigsaw operates 14 services in communities across Ireland. They offer a place you can visit for free with confidential support from trained mental health professionals.

The services Jigsaw offer include:

• One to one sessions for young people aged 12-25
• Jigsaw Live Chat open Monday (1 – 4.30 pm), Wednesday (1 – 4.30 pm), Thursday (2 – 7.30 pm), online, 1:1, text-based support with a clinician 
• Jigsaw Group Chats are online chat forums to discuss with peers about various mental health topics
• Visit Jigsaw.ie  for more information

Turn2Me

Turn2Me are a community of fully qualified and accredited mental health professionals that work online to provide a high quality, safe, anonymous and confidential space for you to gain support – wherever you are, whenever you need them, for whatever you are going through. 

The services Turn2me offer include:

• Six free counselling sessions for adults over 18 online via instant chat/messaging, video or email for every ROI resident
• They also offer support groups online and peer support online
• Visit Turn2Me.ie  for more information

Other support services

Here are some other organisations who may be able to offer support based on your situation:

BeLonG To (for LGBTI+ young people)

BeLonG To youth services is the national organisation supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI+) young people between 14 and 23 years in Ireland.

Services include:

• Support groups for young people and parents
• Informal one-on-one chat service
• Crisis counselling service with Pieta
• One-on-one family support
• Drugs and alcohol support service
• LGBTQ+ youth groups 

The services are confidential, free-of-charge and welcoming to all young people. Visit Belongto.org  for more information.

Women’s Aid

Women’s Aid is a domestic violence service for women and children in Ireland. They offer advice and practical support for women and children who are being physically, emotionally and sexually abused in their own homes.

• 24/7 Freephone helpline, call 1800 341 900
• Online instant message support service
• Visit Womensaid.ie  for more information

Men’s Aid

Men’s Aid specialise in supporting men experiencing domestic violence, whether this is ongoing or in a past relationship. They provide specialist counselling, practical information and legal options, while respecting and supporting you in all your decisions should you decide to leave or stay in the relationship.

• Call their national helpline on 01-5543811
• 1:1, in-person counselling for domestic violence victims
• Visit Mensaid.ie  for more information

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is a national organisation offering a wide range of services to any person affected by rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment or childhood sexual abuse.

Their services include:

• National 24-hour Helpline: 1 800 77 8888
• Helpline Interpretation Service in over 240 languages
• Webchat support
• One-to-one counselling
• Accompaniment services (in Garda stations and court)
• For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, they provide a text service operating Monday to Friday from 8am to 6:30pm, at 086-8238443
• Visit drcc.ie  for more information

TENI

TENI is a non-profit organisation supporting the trans community in Ireland. TENI seeks to improve the situation and advance the rights and equality of trans people and their families. Visit Teni.ie  to find out more.

Mental Health Supports in Northern Ireland

Shout

Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.

Text SHOUT to 85258 to begin.

Mind

Mind is a mental health organisation that offers emergency advice, freephone helplines and mental health resources to those experiencing mental health difficulty. Find out more about Mind. 

Feeling overwhelmed and want to talk to someone?

• Get anonymous support 24/7 with our text message support service
• Connect with a trained volunteer who will listen to you, and help you to move forward feeling better
• Free-text SPUNOUT to 50808 to begin
• Find out more about our text message support service

If you are a customer of the 48 or An Post network or cannot get through using the ‘50808’ short code please text HELLO to 086 1800 280 (standard message rates may apply). Some smaller networks do not support short codes like ‘50808’.