Three, one of Limerick’s leading employers, and Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health in Ireland, have announced a new three year charity partnership.
Jigsaw has 13 centres nationwide including on Arthur’s Quay in Limerick which provides free, non-judgemental and confidential mental health support service for Limerick’s young people aged 12 – 25.
This new partnership will see the delivery of eJigsaw, a first-of-its-kind innovative, digital portal to support the mental health needs of young people. With young people living more and more of their lives online, eJigsaw will provide them with the help and support that they may need, through a medium that they are comfortable with.
This demographic rely on their smartphone like no other generation and look to it to enhance their lives with the majority saying that their smartphone helps their relationships with partners (56%), with work (68%), helps them relax (59%) and helps them to switch off (58%), according to Three’s Connected Ireland Report.
The research also showed that this generation see the health benefits their smartphone offers as 65% said that they would like to be able to seek medical consultations online while 33% said they would use their smartphone to help them become more mindful or improve their mental well-being.
Speaking about the new partnership, Elaine Carey, Chief Commercial Officer with Three said “When we set about looking for our new charity partner we surveyed our employees, customers and the general public and asked them what issue mattered most to them and mental health received an overwhelming response. Through this partnership we can contribute to this issue and deliver a tangible benefit via the digital portal that will provide young people better connectivity to help and support when they need it through eJigsaw.”
Dr Joseph Duffy, Chief Executive Officer, with Jigsaw added “Delivering eJigsaw has been a Jigsaw ambition for some time that we know will give us the opportunity to reach and support even more young people who are struggling to cope. Now, through our new partnership with Three, we will have both the technical and financial support to make this ambition a reality.
eJigsaw will be a first-of-its-kind digital portal. It will provide a range of mental health support and information to educate and equip communities in helping young people, and give direct support to young people at the time when they most need it.”
In addition to helping to deliver eJigsaw, Three will also provide financial support, fundraising and skills based volunteering from its 1400 employees to the youth mental health charity throughout the partnership.
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