Mission: Helplink Mental Health’s (formally Helplink Support Services) mission is to provide accessible, free or low cost mental health services; locally (West of Ireland), nationally and internationally, 7 days a week and out–of–hours. The three types of mental health services that Helplink provides are: Counselling, Information Provision and Education.
Vision: Helplink Mental Health’s vision is to be Ireland’s leading provider of accessible mental health services locally (West of Ireland), nationally and internationally. We aim to achieve this vision through partnership with other organisations and by providing our services accessibly through the utilisation of traditional face-to-face service provision structures in the West of Ireland, coupled with online technologies for service provision nationally and internationally.
Helplink’s qualified, insured and Garda vetted counsellors are available for appointments 7 days a week and out–of–hours from 9 am to 9 pm Monday to Friday and 12 to 6 pm Saturday and Sunday; for free or at low set costs.
Since its inception, our Counsellors and Therapists have provided over 8000 appointments to clients online nationally and also face–to–face in Galway and Mayo (Roscommon in 2020)!
We provide:
Employee Counselling Service: we provide a national staff (EAP) counselling service that is available 7 days a week by phone and online nationwide. This is a pay-as-you-go service; which is perfect for companies small, medium and large.
Irish Abroad Counselling Service: within our international service we provide our unique free, online Irish abroad counselling service for Irish citizens living abroad. The service is available to current Irish passport holders globally (time zone dependent). In 2019 Helplink expanded this service to support returning Irish emigrants as well, through self referral directly to us or through our referral partners Crosscare Migrant Project, Safe Home Ireland and the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO).
Alcohol Dependency Service for Tusla: Since 2017 Helplink has been providing a alcohol dependency counselling service to clients over 18 referred to Helplink by Tusla – this service is available across Galway City and County.
National Gambling Counselling Service: Helplink provides a free gambling problem counselling service, nationally by phone and online (video consultations); 7 days a week and out-of-ours; funded by the Gambling Awareness Trust.
Mind Hacks:
Mind Hacks (www.mindhacks.ie) is an online platform that provides video and podcast libraries around the topics of mental health & emotional wellbeing. These free to use libraries have content available for all ages 24/7.
The platform also provides live Webinars and training Workshops (currently under construction) for healthcare workers, teachers, students (primary/secondary/third level), parents, counsellors/therapists, social care workers / social workers, community workers and more!
The Helplink Show:
Helplink provides an award winning (GOLD winner for ‘Social Benefit’ at the CRAOL Community Radio Awards 2019) monthly radio show and podcast that is hosted live on seven local, national and international community radio stations:
Show topics: mental health, emotional wellbeing and community
Listen back on:
Our YouTube Channel CLICK HERE
Our Spotify Podcasts CLICK HERE
Our new info & education platform Mindhacks.ie CLICK HERE
Lochlann Scott Lochlann holds a degree and two post graduate diplomas in Psychology and Health Psychology. He worked in Social Care and Social Work departments for many years in the HSE West in residential and long-term family support. Previous to his time with the HSE he held multiple management roles in the retail and hospitality sectors. Lochlann founded Helplink Mental Health in 2012 as he saw there was a need to be more innovative in how we provide accessible mental health and conflict resolution services to our communities both at home and abroad. Furthermore, Lochlann is also a voluntary Board Director/Member with Mental Health Reform (Ireland) and he was the winner of the ‘One to Watch’ Social Entrepreneur award at the SCCUL Awards in 2011 and the 2016 runner-up in the Social Entrepreneur of year category.
Greg McMenamin is Helplink’s Office Administrator, previous to joining Helplink in January 2016 he was an administrator with Maoin Cheoil na Gaillimhe. Greg holds a B.A. in English Studies and Sociology and Politics from NUI Galway; he is also the organisation’s GDPR Officer and has completed the ASSIT programme.
Administrative Assistant
Gilles Varette: Product Support Manager Americas – EMEA CSG International (Chair of Helplink Board)
Sam O’Neill: Marketing Executive and former President of GMIT Student’s Union
Tamar Scott: Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Supervisor
Cecil Lenihan: “Start-Up” Partner, CFO & Business Advisory
Cliodhna McGuire: Consultant Solicitor at O’Connor Johnson Solicitors
Gerry Mackey: Mentor – Investor and Financing Readiness
Helplink’s CRA Number 20143237 
Helplink’s Revenue CHY Number 21366
Click here for Helplink‘s Children’s Safeguarding Statement
Click here for Helplink‘s Complaints Policy
Click here for Helplink‘s Privacy Statement
Click here for Helplink‘s Data Protection Policy
Click here for Helplink‘s Fundraising Policy
Click here for Helplink‘s Annual Report 2019
Please email helplinksupport@helplink.ie to access our publicly available certified annual accounts
A bit late but this month on The Helplink Show we chat with:
The Irish Heart Foundation about their organisation and in particular their counselling service for stroke carers and we also speak with the Founder of New Wave Adventure Therapy which uses outdoor adventure activities to create opportunities to develop new skills and competencies, for self-reflection and therapeutic discussion.
Listen live on our partner community radio stations:
Connemara Community Radio / Athlone Community Radio / CharityRadio / Flirt FM 101.3 / CRCfm / Irish Radio Canada / RosFM 94.6
Or anytime on:
Mindhacks.ie mindhacks.ie/category/podcast/?s=Helplink+show
Spotify open.spotify.com/show/0uxYwIMEaZUJbVCUeFimY2
YouTube www.youtube.com/helplinksupportservices
On this day...World Suicide Prevention Day #WSPD2020...8 years ago our CEO set up Helplink Mental Health, to provide accessible free or low cost mental health services!
We stared with just one service (ahead of its time!) a online counselling service that was available 7 days a week!
Now we support 100s of people every year with a wide range of counselling services for children, young people and adults; face-to-face in the West of Ireland and online nationally and globally (Irish abroad).
We also support thousands of people every year with our mental health information and education services too!
We'd like to thank every Board member, Volunteer, Employee, Contractor, Partner organisation and Supporter we have worked with over the years for all their help and we'd also like to thank all our Clients for taking that leap (which is never easy) to get support for their mental health.
We hope to serve our communities for many more years to come 🙂
#mentalhealth #suicideprevention #mentalhealthawareness
It's World Suicide Prevention Day 2020...
If you are in an emotional crisis/distress please remember there are supports out there for you 24/7 for free:
Text 50808 for immediate text support and signposting to services.
or call
Samaritans on 116 123
or Pieta on 1800 247 247
or call 999
#WSPD2020
This is probably the same throughout all the counties!
The investment or rather lack of investment in all public mental health services in Ireland over the decades is nothing short of shocking. People of all ages are suffering due to lack of investment in our mental health services and the situation looks like it's only going to get worse!
Time for the government to implement 'Sharing the Vision' and to support our citizens with accessible and timely mental health services.
NGOs like Helplink are ready and willing to work with government and the HSE if they are willing.
954 children in Galway waiting over 1 year to see a psychologist - Galway Daily
www.galwaydaily.com
There are 1,464 children waiting to see a primary care psychologist in Galway, with 954 waiting for more than one year.Thank you to Galway City Council supported by Department of Rural and Community Development for their grant to support our reopening of our 7 day a week face-to-face counselling services for children, young people, adults. The grant helped towards the purchase of PPE equipment for our counsellors and other COVID-19 health and safety equipment for our clients.
