About Us
Our vision is to ensure that young people are better supported in their mental health and well-being needs as they journey into adulthood.
Headstrong is a new initiative working with communities in Ireland to ensure that young people aged twelve to twenty five are better supported to achieve mental health and wellbeing. Headstrong was set up in response to an identified need to address the issue of youth mental health in Ireland.
It is an independent, non-profit, NGO. It does not provide direct services to young people, rather it works with those who do, acting as an expert partner to the Health Services Executive and other people and services concerned with providing mental health and well-being supports to young people in Ireland (see 'Jigsaw').
Headstrong views 'mental health' as being much more than the absence of mental illness, rather it sees mental health as existing along a continuum spanning from general well-being to distress to mental health disorders requiring specialized care. Similarly to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Headstrong stresses the importance of understanding mental health problems in the context of a young person's environment, friends, family and community.
It is supported by significant business, health systems, public affairs, youth and mental health expertise represented on its Board, Youth Advisory Panel and network of national and international partners . It is funded by a combination of private philanthropic investment from local community leaders concerned with the mental health of local youth, government funding, as well as commitment of resources from the HSE in local communities.
Headstrong has involved young people in all aspects of its development from its inception, and endeavors to continue to involve them in every step of its engagement with local communities as the organisation develops. Headstrong believes that youth participation is of inestimable value in shaping service planning and development.