Jigsaw: engaging communities in the development and implementation of youth mental health services and supports in the Republic of Ireland.
BACKGROUND
Irish young people exhibit high levels of psychological distress, but community-based services and supports are often unavailable or inaccessible.


OBJECTIVE
To describe efforts to engage communities in systematic and data-based processes of planning, programme design, implementation, and evaluation.


METHODS
Details system-building initiatives in five communities (four counties and a distressed urban site) that will serve as a springboard for full national deployment.


RESULTS
Extensive community engagement and planning has occurred in all sites, systems change efforts grounded in detailed business plans have begun, and process and outcome evaluation is underway.


CONCLUSIONS
Needs and resource assessment processes confirmed the magnitude of need, but also suggested the creative re-allocation of local resources. Young people provided invaluable guidance for system design. Creating and sustaining a culture of innovation at each site was challenging, requiring leadership and continuous dialogue.
Illback
Robert J
RJ
Headstrong - The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, Dublin, Ireland. bob@headstrong.ie
Bates
Tony
T
Hodges
Craig
C
Galligan
Karen
K
Smith
Patrick
P
Sanders
Daniel
D
Dooley
Barbara
B
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006285:Health Planning / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D017146:Models, Organizational; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D000092864:Suicide Prevention