Jigsaw: Engaging communities in the development and implementation of youth mental health services and supports in the Republic of Ireland

Background: Irish young people exhibit high levels of psychological distress, but community-based services and supports are often unavailable or inaccessible.Aim: To describe efforts to engage communities in systematic and data-based processes of planning, programme design, implementation, and evaluation.Method: Details system-building initiatives in five communities (four counties and a distressed urban site) that will serve as a springboard for full national deployment.Results: Extensive community engagement and planning has occurred in all sites, systems change efforts grounded in detailed business plans have begun, and process and outcome evaluation is underway.Conclusion: Needs and resource assessment processes confirmed the magnitude of need, but also suggested the creative re-allocation of local resources. Young people provided invaluable guidance for system design. Creating and sustaining a culture of innovation at each site was challenging, requiring leadership and continuous dialogue.