Helplink launched its mental health services on ‘World Suicide Prevention Day’; the 10th of September 2012, and are celebrating their 10 year anniversary this week.
Since we began providing our counselling services we have provided over 15,000 counselling appointments locally, nationally and internationally for children, young people and adults.
Mental Health Counselling Services
Helplink began its counselling service with an online counselling service that was ahead of its time and very effective; it was available nationally and internationally. The initial service was for over 18s only but over the years we have expanded the types of counselling services we offer and the age groups we work with and also we provide in person appointments in our offices in Galway and Mayo. Now we support children from as young as 3 and also youth – as a result we now support people throughout their lifetime; 7 days a week and out-of-hours!
Counselling Services Available:
General Counselling
Couples Counselling
Youth Counselling (including addiction)
Addiction Counselling
Bereavement Therapy
Play Therapy
Art Therapy
Student Mentoring/Counselling Services
Employee Counselling Service: we provide a national staff (EAP) counselling service that is available 7 days a week; nationwide. This is a pay-as-you-go service; which is perfect for companies small, medium, and large.
Gambling Addiction Counselling Service: In 2020 Helplink joined forces with the Gambling Awareness Trust to provide a national gambling addiction / gambling dependency counselling service that is available for free; 7 days a week and out-of-hours.
In 2022 we expanded this service by providing aftercare groups for clients who have gone through the counselling process with our addiction counsellors.
Group Backrow LtoR: Gerry Mackey, Liam Ogrady, Tammie Scott , Glyn jones, Kevin Hogan.
Front Row LtoR: Niamh McGrenra, Gilles Varette, Lochlann Scott, Greg McMenamin.
Pictured at the national launch in Galway
Lochlann Scott Helplink CEO & Galway Mayor Mike Cubbard.
Tusla Commissioned Services in Galway: Since 2017 Helplink has been providing an alcohol dependency counselling service to clients over 18 referred to Helplink by Tusla. In 2021 Helplink was commissioned by Tusla to provide a second service, where we provide counselling to Tusla foster carers in need of support (general, bereavement, addiction and/or couples counselling).
Helplink Mental Health also provide Student Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Workshops, and Mental Health Information Services;
The Helplink Show: For three years, from 2018 to 2020, one of the mental health information services we provided was an award winning, radio show and podcast that was hosted live on many community radio stations across Ireland and also on a Irish radio station in Canada!
The topics discussed on the show were: mental health, emotional wellbeing, and community matters.
In 2019 The Helplink Show was the GOLD winner for ‘Social Benefit’ at the CRAOL Community Radio Awards! And then in 2020 the show was shortlisted for the ‘Headline Impact Award at the Mental Health Media Awards’.
Mind Hacks Video & Podcast Libraries; Helplink has designed and developed Ireland’s only digital libraries of mental health and emotional wellbeing videos and podcasts (with over 10,000 unique users). The reason why we provide these services, since 2020, is that through our research over the years we have found that people can be more likely nowadays to watch a video or listen to a podcast than to read an article online. Keeping with our mission to make mental health accessible we decide to develop and collate these libraries for the public. Essentially these libraries with content for all ages are The Netflix and Spotify of mental health content!
Irish Abroad & Returning Irish Counselling Service: we also have an international service where we provide our unique free, online Irish abroad counselling service for Irish citizens living abroad and returning Irish emigrants as well.