Support and resources in Ireland
Organisations we point people to, whatever stage you are at — information, peer support, affordable counselling, your rights at work and in education, help in a crisis — and the books and free courses that patients find useful alongside treatment.
We list these organisations because they are useful and free or low-cost; where fees apply, we say so. Seaward Clinic has no arrangement with any of them and receives nothing for the links, which open external websites with their own privacy notices. Every website and number was checked against the organisation’s own site on 19 October 2026; if something has changed, let us know.
If you need help now
Seaward Clinic is not an emergency service. In an emergency call 999 or 112. These lines are free and confidential; the first four are also at the foot of every page of this site.
| Service | Contact | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency services | 112 or 999 | Day and night |
| Samaritans | 116 123, free | Day and night |
| Pieta, suicide and self-harm | 1800 247 247 Text HELP to 51444 | Day and night |
| Text About It | Text HELLO to 50808 | Day and night |
| Aware Support Line | 1800 80 48 48 | 10.00 to 22.00, seven days |
| Women’s Aid | 1800 341 900 | Day and night |
| Men’s Aid Ireland | (01) 554 3811 | Monday to Friday, 9.00 to 17.00 |
| Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, National 24-Hour Helpline | 1800 77 8888 | Day and night |
| HSE Drugs & Alcohol Helpline | 1800 459 459 | Monday to Friday, 9.30 to 17.30 |
Depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder
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For people experiencing depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety, and those close to them: support groups across the country and online, email support, free programmes based on cognitive behavioural therapy, and information.
Freephone support line 1800 80 48 48, seven days a week, 10.00 to 22.00.
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Free peer support groups for adults, in person around Ireland and online, run by people with their own experience of mental health difficulties. No referral and no waiting list.
Infoline 0818 474 474; office (01) 840 8236.
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Free, recovery-focused support for people living with mental ill health, and for their families and supporters, with information and one-to-one help; home of See Change, the programme against stigma.
(01) 860 1610 or 086 040 7701, Monday to Friday, 9.00 to 17.00.
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Wellbeing resources, training and a network of local Mental Health Associations and community projects across the country.
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Plain information from the health service on common difficulties, self-help, when to seek help and what services exist, including the public mental health services you reach through your GP.
Mental health information line 1800 111 888, day and night; HSE Live, freephone 1800 700 700.
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Recovery Self Help Method Ireland
Weekly peer-led self-help groups using the Recovery International method, in person and online.
Suicide prevention and bereavement
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Free counselling for people in suicidal distress or who self-harm, and for people bereaved by suicide.
1800 247 247, day and night · text HELP to 51444
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Pieta: suicide bereavement support
Counselling and a liaison service for families and communities after a death by suicide.
Liaison service 0818 111 126 · sblo.referrals@pieta.ie
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Wellness workshops and programmes for people who have experienced suicidal thoughts, and for those around them.
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Someone to talk to, whatever you are going through, by phone, day and night.
116 123, free
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Free, anonymous support by text message, day and night, also on WhatsApp.
Text HELLO to 50808
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Irish Hospice Foundation: Bereavement Support Line
A listening ear after any bereavement, and information on local supports.
1800 80 70 77, Monday to Friday, 10.00 to 13.00
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Support for parents after the death of a child, at any age.
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Peer support and practical information for people widowed in Ireland.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
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The national organisation for people affected by OCD, body dysmorphic disorder and trichotillomania: free, confidential online support groups with trained facilitators, a separate group for family, friends and carers, and information.
Contact through the website.
ADHD
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The national charity. Information for adults, an online peer support group that meets fortnightly, the six-week Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme (UMAAP) run with the HSE, a list of clinicians, and the free “ADHD in Adults” app developed with the HSE and UCD.
Support line (01) 874 8349, Monday to Friday, 9.30 to 17.00.
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HSE National Clinical Programme: ADHD in Adults
The public (free) route to assessment and treatment, for adults with moderate to severe symptoms affecting two or more areas of life, through your GP and your local Community Mental Health Team. Clinics are not yet in every area and waiting times vary. Seaward Clinic is a private practice and is not part of the programme.
Self-help resources: books and free courses
Books and free Irish resources that patients find useful alongside treatment, for depression, anxiety and ADHD. None of this replaces your appointments or medication, but a good book or course can make the time between them count.
Depression
Books
- Mind Over Mood — Dennis Greenberger and Christine Padesky. The CBT workbook most therapists recommend.
- Overcoming Depression and Low Mood — Chris Williams. The Five Areas approach to CBT; any recent edition.
- The Mindful Way Through Depression — Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal and Jon Kabat-Zinn. For staying well.
- Depression: A Practical Guide — Dr Harry Barry. Irish GP, plain language; previously published as Flagging Depression.
Free
- Aware Life Skills Online: a free online programme based on cognitive behavioural therapy, eight weekly modules at your own pace with an Aware volunteer supporter, for depression, stress and anxiety; the six-week Life Skills Group is the facilitated version.
- Aware Support Line, 1800 80 48 48, every day, 10.00 to 22.00.
Anxiety and panic
Books
- Dare — Barry McDonagh. Best for panic attacks.
- Overcoming Anxiety, Stress and Panic: A Five Areas Approach — Chris Williams.
- The Happiness Trap — Russ Harris. Acceptance-based (ACT); good if fighting the anxiety is not working.
- Anxiety and Panic: How to Reshape Your Anxious Mind and Brain — Dr Harry Barry. Previously published as Flagging Anxiety and Panic.
Free
- SilverCloud: guided online programmes based on cognitive behavioural therapy, free through the HSE with a referral from your GP, Primary Care Psychology, Counselling in Primary Care, your community mental health team or Jigsaw.
- HSE Minding Your Wellbeing Programme: five short videos on looking after your mental wellbeing.
- Aware Life Skills Online, above, also covers anxiety.
ADHD in adults
Books
- ADHD 2.0 — Edward Hallowell and John Ratey. The best place to start.
- Taking Charge of Adult ADHD — Russell Barkley. Practical and structured.
- How to ADHD — Jessica McCabe. Accessible, strengths-based.
Free
- ADHD Ireland: information for adults, peer support groups and the free “ADHD in Adults” app.
- UMAAP: the Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme, six weekly online sessions through ADHD Ireland; no diagnosis or referral needed, and places are limited.
Free at your local library. Irish public libraries hold many of these titles, and any book can be requested from another branch through the national catalogue; a library card is free. The libraries’ Power of Words list, developed with the HSE and the Irish College of General Practitioners, recommends further self-help titles.
Counselling and psychotherapy
Psychological therapy is often part of the plan, and Seaward Clinic does not provide it. The Dún Laoghaire Therapy Centre, where Dr Szigeti sees patients, is home to psychologists and psychotherapists; the professional bodies below list accredited therapists across the country, the public services are free through your GP, and Turn2Me and MyMind make therapy affordable for people who could not otherwise pay for it.
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Online counselling and anonymous peer support groups by text chat, for adults; residents of Ireland get six free counselling sessions.
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Low-cost counselling and psychotherapy, in person in several cities and by video, in English and more than twenty other languages, with reduced fees for students, people out of work and those on low incomes. No referral needed.
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Psychologists and psychotherapists at 98 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire, where Dr Szigeti sees patients.
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Psychological Society of Ireland
The professional body for psychologists: find a chartered psychologist.
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IACP: Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Find an accredited counsellor or psychotherapist near you.
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Family Therapy Association of Ireland
Find a registered family therapist.
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HSE Counselling in Primary Care
Free short-term counselling for adults with a medical card, through your GP.
South Dublin office (01) 280 5862, after GP referral
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Psychotherapy training institute at 23 Herbert Street, Dublin 2, with a counselling service.
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Low-cost counselling in Bray and Arklow.
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Counselling and psychotherapy in Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
Alcohol and drugs
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Confidential information and support for you or for someone you are worried about; the same number serves the HSE alcohol support service.
1800 459 459, Monday to Friday, 9.30 to 17.30 · helpline@hse.ie
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DROP: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Outreach Project
Local support for people affected by drug and alcohol use, and for their families.
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The HSE-funded community addiction service for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.
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Meetings across the country, in person and online.
(01) 842 0700, Monday to Friday, 9.30 to 17.00; evenings and weekends (01) 852 7000
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For family members and friends of people who drink.
(01) 873 2699, every day, 10.00 to 22.00
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Residential and outpatient addiction treatment, Dublin 16 (fees apply).
Eating disorders
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The national eating disorders association: helpline, email support, online and in-person groups, and support for families.
Helpline (01) 210 7906: Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, 19.30 to 21.30; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10.30 to 12.30. Office (01) 283 4963
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Eating disorder treatment centre in Sutton, Dublin 13 (fees apply).
Domestic abuse and sexual violence
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Support for women experiencing abuse from a partner or former partner.
1800 341 900, day and night
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Support for men experiencing domestic abuse.
(01) 554 3811, Monday to Friday, 9.00 to 17.00
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Refuge and support for women and children, north Dublin.
1800 767 767, day and night
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Sonas Domestic Violence Charity
Refuge, safe homes and outreach support for women and children in Dublin.
1800 222 223, day and night
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Programmes for men who want to stop being violent or abusive in their relationships.
085 886 4440 (Dublin and North East); national office 065 684 8689, Monday to Friday, 9.00 to 17.00
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Counselling and support after rape, sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse, for women and men.
National 24-Hour Helpline 1800 77 8888; office (01) 661 4911
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The national network of rape crisis centres: find your local centre. No helpline of its own.
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Psychotherapy and advocacy for adults who experienced sexual abuse in childhood.
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HSE National Counselling Service
Free counselling for adults who experienced abuse or neglect in childhood, by GP referral or self-referral.
1800 234 111 (South Dublin, South-East Dublin, East Wicklow) · 1800 234 110 (Dublin North) · 1800 234 112 (Dublin South-West, Kildare, West Wicklow)
LGBTQ+
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National helpline and peer support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families.
1800 929 539: Monday to Thursday, 18.30 to 22.00; Friday, 16.00 to 22.00; Saturday and Sunday, 16.00 to 18.00
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Dublin’s LGBTQ+ listening and information line (formerly Gay Switchboard).
(01) 872 1055: Monday to Friday, 18.30 to 21.00; Saturday and Sunday, 14.00 to 17.00
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TENI: Transgender Equality Network Ireland
Support and advocacy for trans people and their families.
(01) 907 3707; family support line Tuesday, 10.00 to 12.00, and Sunday, 18.00 to 21.00
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The national organisation for LGBTQ+ young people, with information for families.
Contact through the website
Money, family and everyday life
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MABS: Money Advice and Budgeting Service
Free, confidential advice on debt and budgeting.
0818 07 2000, Monday to Friday, 9.00 to 20.00
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Your rights and entitlements, from social welfare to health services, in plain language.
0818 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9.00 to 20.00
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Department of Social Protection
Payments and supports, including illness and disability payments; apply and manage claims at mywelfare.ie.
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Support, information and courses for people parenting alone, sharing parenting or separating.
(01) 662 9212, Monday to Friday, 10.00 to 15.00
Older people
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Support for older people who want to stay living at home: practical help, befriending and a national support line.
0818 222 024, seven days, 8.00 to 20.00
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A confidential listening service for older people, run by trained older volunteers.
1800 80 45 91, every day, 10.00 to 22.00
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Friendship and social activities for older people living alone in Dublin.
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A network of local active retirement associations across the country.
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Programmes in physical activity, the arts and personal development for people over 50.
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Retirement Planning Council of Ireland
Courses on preparing for retirement.
Work, study and training
Mental health conditions and ADHD come within the definition of disability used by Irish equality law and by the education supports below. Whether to tell an employer or a college is your choice; a letter or report from your psychiatrist is usually what they ask for when you request accommodations.
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Citizens Information: working with a disability
Your rights at work in plain language: reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015, whether to disclose, and the employment supports that exist. See also Equality in the workplace.
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IHREC: disability and reasonable accommodation
What the law asks of employers, from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission: appropriate measures such as flexible hours, changed duties or adapted equipment, unless they would be a disproportionate burden.
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For students in further and higher education and for graduates: disability supports and reasonable accommodations in college, the DARE scheme for college entry, and the WAM programme that places graduates with disabilities in paid work.
Courses and training
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National Learning Network: College East
Training and education courses for people with a disability or a mental health difficulty, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.
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Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board
Adult and further education courses, many free or low-cost.
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The Institute of Art, Design and Technology, with disability and student support services.
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The national further education and training authority: course finder and funding.
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Evening and part-time courses across Ireland.
Volunteering
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Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Volunteer Centre
Matches volunteers with local organisations.
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The national volunteering database.
Advocacy
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Peer Advocacy in Mental Health
Independent advocacy by people with their own experience of mental health services, for anyone using those services (Irish Advocacy Network).
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Information and advocacy, with local Mental Health Associations (see above).
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Support and advocacy for people affected by mental ill health, and the national programme against stigma (see above).
Is there an organisation or a book that helped you and is not listed here? Tell us and we will consider adding it.