Jigsaw provides missing pieces of youth mental health service

However, many young people are left waiting for up to 18 weeks to be seen due to a spike in demand since the pandemic

'No problem too small': Youth mental health service Jigsaw helps 12- to 25-year-olds with a wider range of issues than Camhs, which deals with the 2% of people who have severe and complex needs. Picture: iStock

Young people needing to avail of a youth mental health service are having to wait up to 18 weeks for their first appointment, its CEO has warned. 

Joseph Duffy says soaring demand for Jigsaw's service, coupled with staff retention challenges, means that waiting times have jumped from just a few weeks to more than three months in Cork City — which has the longest wait time.