The project aims to evaluate the various clinical pathways that exist between Jigsaw Galway and Adult and Child Mental Health Services in the West of Ireland. Young people often find it difficult to access appropriate supports regarding their mental health needs. This can be attributed to a wide variety of factors such as reluctance to approach a traditional mental health service due to to the stigma that surrounds it. Other obstacles to accessing services include not knowing where to seek help and perceived cost implications. Jigsaw Galway is an innovative and evidence-based approach attempting to combat these barriers by organising services and supports to improve the mental health and well-being of young people. It is supported by Headstrong, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health Service, and also has partnerships with Health Service Executive and Mental Health Ireland. Young people are often referred to Jigsaw Galway from the secondary mental health service and vice versa. This project aims to assess the profile of such individuals. It will also compare demographic and clinical factors of individuals who are referred to Jigsaw Galway from the secondary mental health service to those who self-refer or are referred by primary care. We will also examine if individuals have different levels of engagement with the secondary mental health services compared to Jigsaw Galway after referral from one organisation to the other.
