Loneliness after covid lockdowns blamed for spike in youth mental health referrals

'For lots of people, that reintroduction back into society was really tricky, so reestablishing relationships that were in place seems incredibly difficult,' said Jigsaw's Mike Mansfield. iStock

Jigsaw, the national centre for youth mental health, saw a 6% rise in referrals last year, with loneliness after the covid lockdowns blamed as one of the main reasons.

However, a change in how Jigsaw delivers face-to-face therapy to tackle waiting lists saw waiting times of up to 25 weeks in Cork last year slashed to five weeks now. Wait times in Tipperary have been cut to nine weeks.

Jigsaw communications and fundraising director Mike Mansfield said last year that “just shy of 9,000 young people” attended in-person therapy at 14 centres around the country.

A further 2,000 used online-only services.

“That’s the highest ever number of young people who have accessed our service,” he said, adding: “We are seeing a lot of isolation and loneliness so that lack of connection and we are trying to figure out is that fallout from covid.”

Teenagers tell Jigsaw about losing touch with friend groups during lockdowns or they were not added to Whatsapp groups at the time so now find it hard to re-connect. He said: 

For lots of people, that reintroduction back into society was really tricky, so reestablishing relationships that were in place seems incredibly difficult. We’re still seeing it.

Teens are more aware of Jigsaw now with less stigma attached to seeking help, he said, which could be adding to the growth in numbers.

However, he warned they are seeing more GP referrals where a child might have been sent to Camhs (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) in the past.

“We are now seeing more and more presentations where there is increased complexity, there is self-harm, there is suicidal ideation,” he said.

“About 67% of our presentations last year are at that higher level. And if we look at our online [services] that’s about 87% moderate to severe and up at that higher level of complexity.”

This is linked to waiting lists for Camhs, and he supported a call from Mental Health Reform for greater investment in mental health services.

“We can’t run an effective mental health service at national level with the money that’s there,” he said.

Earlier this week, the Irish Examiner reported that 5,009 children and teens in Cork and Kerry are waiting for HSE primary psychology care including 105 waiting four to five years.

These delays are “out of control” according to Social Democrats TD for Cork South-West Holly Cairns who obtained the data.