Mental Health & Wellbeing in Athletics - Athletics Ireland

This resource page signposts support services for mental health and wellbeing. Mental health conditions are characterized by changes in our thinking, mood or behaviour and can include illnesses such as anxiety, depression, addiction, personality disorders or eating disorders. Every single one of us will experience tough times in our lives.

YourMentalHealth.ie is a great place to learn about mental health and how to support yourself and the people you love and care for. You can find support services near you, and learn about the #littlethings that can make a big difference to how we all feel. For more information and support services go to:http://www.yourmentalhealth.ie – brought to you by the HSE, the National Office for Suicide Prevention and partner organisations across the country.  

If you or someone you know is suffering please contact any of the following support services to get help and advice.

If you have a query on any of the services listed please contact Kieron Stout, Child Welfare & Safeguarding Manager by email at kieronstout@athleticsireland.ie or phone 086 2450134 / (01) 886 9933.

Athletics Ireland is committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in athletics. If you have a child welfare or safeguarding query or concern please contact Kieron Stout, Child Welfare & Safeguarding Manager, for support and advice. If you have a concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child please contact your local Gardai or HSE Duty Social Worker.

The aim of the athlete support programme is to help create an environment where elite athletes can combine their international sporting career with their education in a way that allows them to achieve their potential in both fields. Topics covered include life-skills, planning, organisational and academic scheduling support. Athletics Ireland carded athletes can contact athleteservices@athleticsireland.ie by email for qualification criteria.

Aware was founded in 1985 by Dr. Patrick McKeon and a small but dedicated team of volunteers, many of whom had their own personal experience with depression, or bipolar disorder. The organisation developed in response to the clear need for information, understanding and support, both for individuals who had a diagnosis of depression or bipolar as well as family members supporting a loved one.

Email: info@aware.ie

Athletics Ireland has adopted the Irish Anti-doping Unit rules which are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. Athletics Ireland strongly recommends that all High Performance athletes become familiar with their rights and responsibilities in relation to anti-doping programmes and act according. Athletics Ireland condemns the use of banned substances and unethical methods to improve the performance of athletes in sport. We support a fair and equitable competition environment and doping does not promote the good health and safe welfare of athletes.

Barnardos is a children’s charity that works with vulnerable children and their families in Ireland and campaigns for the rights of all children.

Email: info@barnardos.ie

CARI is the leading voluntary organisation with a proven track record in providing child centered specialised therapy and support to children, families and groups affected by child sexual abuse, regardless of means.

Email: info@cari.ie

Connect is a free telephone counselling and support service for any adult who has experienced abuse, trauma or neglect in childhood. You can talk in confidence with a trained counsellor who can listen or help with questions you have.

Email: admin@connectcounselling.ie

All conversations with Childline are private, which means that you can talk to Childline about anything and they won’t tell anyone unless you tell them who you are or where you are. Childline is for young people up to the age of 18. Contact services are available from 10am to 4am every day. 

Drugs.ie provides general information on drugs and alcohol abuse and details on more specific services in your area to help you get started and point you in the right direction. Support services include helpline, harm reduction services, help with drug and alcohol related problems, and support groups for drug and alcohol users and their families and friends.

An Garda Síochána is the national police service of Ireland. The Mission of An Garda Síochána is ‘Working with Communities to Protect and Serve’.

The HSE provides all of Ireland’s public health services, in hospitals and communities nationwide.

Email: infoline1@hse.ie

If you are looking for face to face counseling for issues surrounding childhood abuse, please get in contact with the HSE National Counselling Service, which has counselling centres all over Ireland.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) is Ireland’s oldest and most well-known children’s charity.  The ISPCC has a long, proud history of service delivery and advocacy on behalf of children.

Athletics Ireland has implemented the ISPCC Stand Up to Bullying reporting tool on the Athletics Ireland Child Welfare page. This is a confidential service for any child or young person to use if they are affected by bullying. Please share with children and young people in your club. This is a monitored secure service where children and young people can voice any concerns they may have about bullying. Athletics Ireland is the first sport in Ireland to adopt this service. Stand Up to Bullying: http://www.athleticsireland.ie/juvenile/child-welfare

Jigsaw is a network of centres across Ireland to make sure every young person has somewhere to turn to and someone to talk to when in need. Headstrong, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health is a charitable organisation supporting young people’s mental health in Ireland. Its goals include that every young person will have at least “one good adult” in their life, and that when they need support, they will be able to seek and obtain it.

Mental Health Ireland is a national voluntary organisation which aims to promote positive mental health and to actively support persons with a mental illness, their families and carers by identifying their needs and advocating their rights.

One in Four is a national charity which provides psychotherapy and advocacy services for people who have experienced sexual violence.

Email: info@oneinfour.ie

Pieta House, the centre for the prevention of self-harm or suicide opened over nine years ago with Lucan in County Dublin the centre of operations, now with nine centres nationwide helping people in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm.

Email: mary@pieta.ie

For a directory of Rape Crisis Centres around the country. Rape Crisis Centres across the country offers a wide range of services to women and men who are affected by rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment or childhood sexual abuse.

ReachOut.com is an online youth mental health service. Put simply, it helps young people through tough times in their lives.

Email: general@reachout.com

Samaritans provide 24-hour emotional support to anyone experiencing distress, despair or suicidal thought.

Email: jo@samaritans.org

SpunOut.ie is Ireland’s youth information website created by young people, for young people. SpunOut.ie provides young people with a space to have their questions answered, receive advice from other readers with lived experiences and to share their views with the SpunOut.ie community.

Teen Between is a specialised counselling service which supports teenagers with separated or divorced parents.

Email: teenbetween@relationshipsireland.com

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is now the dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children. It represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland. The Child and Family Agency’s services include a range of universal and targeted services for children and families.

Email: info@tusla.ie

Women’s Aid is a national organisation that has been working in Ireland to stop domestic violence against women and children since 1974. The Women’s Aid Helpline is the only free, national, domestic violence helpline with specialised trained staff.

Email: info@womensaid.ie

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