Refugees and Applicants Seeking Protection
Adults and children who come to Ireland as refugees or applicants seeking protection can access mental health supports that are provided by or supported by the HSE including;
- Information, self-help supports and online resources
- Supports and services provided in the community by voluntary organisations
- Specialist mental health services that can be accessed through their GP (general doctor)
People arriving in Ireland may be affected by their experiences in their home country in different ways. Many will be able to cope quite well with appropriate practical support. Others may experience distress and could be at risk of developing mental health difficulties.
Information on a broad range of mental health supports, services and resources can be found on the HSE’s yourmentalhealth.ie (information provided in English).
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection arriving from Ukraine
- Getting Healthcare in Ireland provides information on services and support pathways in both Ukrainian and Russian. It also directs users to various supports, including counselling, peer support, advocacy services, helplines, and online resources.
- My Mind provides free one-to-one counselling and psychotherapy services (in person and online) to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine, over 18, living in Ireland.
- Aware provides free support, education and information for people with mental health issues as well as their family and friends. They also provide support groups for people from Ukraine.
Organisations that offer free mental health support for children and young people
- Childline has updated its extensive suite of services to include 24 hour text and live chat supports in Ukrainian. Find information here
- SpunOut.ie has online resources, articles and information for young Ukrainians about accessing the healthcare and social welfare systems in Ireland.
- Barnardos find support and guidance tailored to Ukrainians, specifically for parents, carer's, and those working in early years.
Further information available
- My Health My Language is a range of videos which provide information on a number of healthcare topics, including mental health. The videos are available in 17 languages.
Accessing Specialist Mental Health Supports and Services
Anyone who is experiencing difficulties with their mental health should speak to a GP (general doctor). The doctor can refer the person to a wide range of mental health supports and services delivered by, or on behalf of, the HSE. These include supports and mental health services in the community, and specialist mental health services. Services are available for children and adults. Interpreter services are also available.
Other relevant supports
Some NGOs also provide support through various projects
The See Change campaign, developed by Shine, works with partners across the country to reduce mental health stigma including organisations that span across all sectors of society including minority groups during our Green Ribbon campaign, giving talks, organising events and providing information.
Contact info@seechange.ie for further information
Cairde
Be Aware, Be Well – Migrant Mental Health & Wellbeing Initiative. It aims to improve mental health outcomes for ethnic minorities in Ireland through key actions: 1-Community-Based Mental Health Promotion and Awareness Raising, 2-Capacity Building, 3-Peer Support, 4-Improved Access, and Service Provision.
Youth Mentoring : Direct Provision/IPAS
This programme matches a young person (10-18 years) from a direct provision centre, with a caring adult volunteer from their local community. The programme is a unique collaboration between the participant and the community with the aim of addressing issues of the young person's social and emotional wellbeing, as well as their integration and inclusion into their new community. Participants either reside in a direct provision centre and/or are International Protection Applicants.
There are two projects in operation in 2024: 1. Direct Provision Centre, Ballyhaunis Mayo and 2. Direct Provision Centre, Salthill, Galway.
