Mission: Helplink Mental Health’s mission is to provide accessible, free or low cost mental health services; locally (West of IRL), 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 10,000 appointments to clients online nationally and also face–to–face in Galway and Mayo (Roscommon in 2021)!
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 in 2012 as he saw there was a need to be more innovative in how we provide mental health and conflict resolution services to our communities both at home and abroad. Furthermore, Lochlann is also a voluntary Board Director/Trustee 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 big big big shout-out to Adrian Sheerin of Sheer Fitness who organised a fundraiser for us at Helplink and Mindspace Mayo !!
And what an amazing fundraiser it was! Over 100 people got involved in a skipping challenge doing 1000 skips a day as well as other workouts !! 🎉 💪🎖️
Adrian's gofundme page is still up so if you want to donate through him, here's the link:
ie.gofundme.com/f/d4y9g7-sheer-fitness-skipping-challenge
Well done and congratulations on an amazing achievement to everyone involved! You're all superheros in our eyes🦸🤩
Great to see some extra coverage for the NUI Galway Students' Union's Big Yellow Thing Socks in which all profits go to charities including us at Helplink, The Galway RCC and Galway Autism Partnership GAP!
Stay cosy this winter and get yourself a pair of these unique socks! 😊
Students’ Union charity socks for Christmas
www.advertiser.ie
NUI Galway Students’ Union has today re-launched its fundraising socks campaign, featuring a tribute to the iconic “Galway Yellow” (AKA Big Yellow Thing ) sculpture on campus.Thank you so much The Creamery for this extra support, we are very lucky to have the Coldvember crew plunging into the ocean everyday this month in aid our 7 day a week mental health services 🥰
Don't forget to say I want to support Helplink when you make your purchase at The Creamery and 1 euro will be donated to us!The Creamery Cafe will donate €1 for ea purchase transaction when you order ...when you say you wish to support this needed service. NUIGColdnovember, Coldvember
We have gotten some new followers recently (welcome👋) and want to tell you all about our counselling services!
Helplink is happy to say one of the services we offer is free Irish Abroad counselling as well as a returning to Ireland service! 🇮🇪
This global service provides culturally sensitive counselling support to Irish citizens living abroad (and returning home from living abroad) with their emotional support needs; 7 days a week!
For Irish returning emigrants they can self-refer to us or can go through our referral partners @irishmigrants, @Safehomeireland
and @ICPOprisoners
Appointments are available 7 days a week,
Monday to Friday 9-9 & Saturday and Sunday 12-6
🇮🇪(Irish time)🇮🇪
All appointments are via video call online!
If you have trouble getting online, your local Irish support agency may help or see @irishmigrants who have a list of the non-gov support agencies around the world who may help!
⬆️⬇️
This link has more info: www.migrantproject.ie/leaving-ireland/settling-in/
The service opened in a pilot phase in 2016, since then we have supported Irish citizens in 25 countries (>30 cities) globally! 💫
If you want to make an appointment, please email helplinksupport@helplink.ie or fill out an appointment form on www.helplink.ie
If you know someone who is struggling abroad, why not share this with them 🥰
It is now acceptable to swim in the sea ✔️🏊
Well done to Teresa Mannion and the rest of the gang getting your heads wet for another day of Coldvember NUIG fundraising! Don't forget to follow them on Instagram and Facebook to see their daily posts!👏💛👏
Doing some shopping today?
Why not #shoplocal and buy our #BigYellowThing Socks for just €9!🧦
The ideal present to post and all proceeds go to the SU Charities! 😍
Buy them in the SU Shop or online here⬇️
https://su.nuigalway.ie/shop/
#shopgalway #GreenFriday #nuig #BlackFriday
PSA Never dive or jump into cold water without acclimatising your body to the conditions first
Cold water shock can effect even the most experienced cold water swimmers
Cold water is defined as 15°C and under
More info:
https://rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks/cold-water-shock
#watersafety #coldwatershock
