Description and outcome evaluation of Jigsaw : an emergent Irish mental health early intervention programme for young people
Abstract
Objectives: Jigsaw is an early intervention mental health service developed by Headstrong which provides support to young people, aged 12–25 years, in 10 communities across Ireland. This study aimed to profile young people who availed of Jigsaw , in one calendar year, and to provide evidence that Jigsaw ’s model facilitates the reduction of psychological distress. Methods: Participants were 2420 young people who received support, directly or indirectly, from Jigsaw . Demographic details, including age, gender, presenting issues and referral pathways, captured on the Jigsaw Data System were described and psychological distress was assessed using the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE) questionnaires. Results: A gender balance was almost observed and the majority of participants were between 15 and 17 years old. The most common presenting issue was anxiety and the most common referral sources were self, parent, general practitioner, school and Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). Participants reported high levels of psychological distress pre-intervention and levels were significantly lower post intervention. Conclusions: Although a lack of control group limits interpretation of the study findings, this study provides emerging evidence that Jigsaw is an accessible and effective service which plays a key role in the continuum of mental health care for young people in Ireland.
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Integrated youth mental health-care services offer reductions in distress, symptoms, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.
“Independent and in-house evaluations have found that integrated youth mental health-care services are associated with high satisfaction rates among young people, 288,296,306,310,313 are cost-effective, 288 and offer a range of benefits: increased help-seeking behaviours and enhanced access to care; inclusion of marginalised and at-risk populations such as Indigenous people and LGB”
From The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health (2024) · cites this paper as [311]
In Jigsaw Ireland, 52% of young people have moderate-to-severe or severe distress at entry.
“52% of young people have moderate-to-severe or severe distress at entry”
From The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health (2024) · cites this paper as [311]
In Jigsaw Ireland, post-treatment, 62% aged 17-25 years showed reliable and clinically significant improvement and 68% aged 12-16 years showed reliable improvement.
“psychological distress post- treatment: 62% aged 17-25 years showed reliable and clinically significant improvement and 68% aged 12-16 years showed reliable improvement”
From The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health (2024) · cites this paper as [311]
In Ireland, services called 'Headstrong' and 'Jigsaw' have developed, proving to be effective in facilitating access to community care to people aged 12-25 with emerging mental health difficulties.
“In Ireland, services called ‘Headstrong’ and ‘Jigsaw’ have developed, proving to be effective in facilitating access to community care to people aged 12–25 with emerging mental health difficulties [134].”
From Prevention and early intervention in youth mental health: is it time for a multidisciplinary and trans-diagnostic model for care? (2020) · cites this paper as [134]
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- Authors
- O’Keeffe, L., O’Reilly, A., O’Brien, G., Buckley, R., & Illback, R.
- Affiliations
- Realistic Education in Action Coalition to Foster Health (US)
- Corresponding author
- O’Keeffe, L.
- ORCID
- O’Reilly, A.
- Venue
- Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2015-01-19
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 71-77
- ISSN
- 0790-9667 (ISSN-L)
- 2051-6967
- OpenAlex
- W2117398255
- Cited by
- 80
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 4.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Atlantic Philanthropies
- Health Service Executive
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- Jigsaw, early intervention, youth, child and adolescent mental health services, psychological distress, anxiety, referral pathways, Ireland, core outcome measures
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