Mental Health and Wellbeing programme

The HSE Mental Health and Wellbeing programme aims to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for everyone, especially those who need it most.

Our Work

HSE Mental Health Promotion Plan

HSE's mental health promotion plan is called Stronger Together. It is a 5 year plan and consists of 27 actions. These actions focus on promoting positive mental health across key life stages and settings. The programme is carried out and monitored by a National Implementation Steering Group.

Stronger Together - HSE Mental Health Promotion Plan 2022-2027 (PDF, 4.8 MB, 52pages)

Supporting infant and parent mental health

Positive mental health begins to develop in the early years of life. A child's early experiences play a key role in shaping how their brain develops. This includes relationships with parents, caregivers, family members, and friends.

Parenting programmes

Evidence-based parenting programmes are offered through Sláintecare Healthy Communities. These programmes help parents support their children’s wellbeing. This work is done in partnership with the National Healthy Childhood Programme.

Supporting children and young people’s social and emotional development

Schools are an important setting to reach children and young people.

The programme provides resources and supports to schools. It helps them to enhance children's mental health and wellbeing

To achieve this, we work with:

HSE Health and Wellbeing Education Programme
Department of Education
National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)

Zippy’s Friends

This is an universal evidence-based programme for primary school children aged 5 to 8 years. It helps develop coping skills and support emotional wellbeing.

Find out more about Zippy's Friends

MindOut

A universal evidence-based social and emotional learning programme. This is aimed at senior cycle students in post-primary schools aged 15-18 years.

This 12-week programme aims to strengthen students:

emotional regulation
coping skills
communication skills
relationship skills

Find out more about MindOut

Minding your Wellbeing for Higher Education Students

We are working with National Office for Suicide Prevention on the development of a mental health promotion intervention. This will address the needs of students in higher education.

Community-based supports

We work with our community partners to deliver supports and services, aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing across our communities.

Social prescribing

Social prescribing is one of our main initiatives. It’s a free service funded by the HSE and run by our community partners. The service helps people with social, emotional or practical needs. It connects them to supports in their community, with the help of a social prescribing link worker.

There are over 40 social prescribing services across the country.

Referrals can be made by:

individuals
family members
GPs
other healthcare professionals

Find information on social prescribing services across the country - allirelandsocialprescribing.ie

Arts and Creativity

The goal of this initiative is to provide high quality national arts and creative programmes. It focuses on supporting socially excluded groups.

This is done in collaboration with:

The Arts Council, Creative Ireland
Department of Health
Healthy Ireland

Supporting HSE staff

The HSE is the largest employer in the state. Supporting staff mental health and wellbeing is a key priority for the HSE.

Minding Your Wellbeing programme

This is a 1 day programme designed to support staff health and wellbeing. This evidence informed programme is delivered by Health Promotion and Improvement officers nationwide

It covers topics such as: