HEAltH MAttErS 17
yoUth servIces
y
o
U
ng
people
IdeNTIfyINg SUpporTS
“life’s not so bad – it’s like a jigsaw, it
One of the key steps in working with any
young person is to identify the natural
eventually comes together” – aaron Higgins
(family/friends) and community-based
supports available to the young person. Before Jigsaw, I would have stayed
the focus is on working with young people in my house. I wouldn’t have been able
from a strengths-based perspective, and to come out and meet people. I would
developing the capacity of the individual have shied away from groups of people.
and those around them. A central strategy
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My name is Aaron Higgins and I'm living
in Galway. I first started going to Jigsaw
earlier this year.
I was feeling really depressed and
down. I went through a lot when I was I feel more confident in myself and know
within Jigsaw is to ensure that supports younger. My childhood wasn’t good or now that I’m not mad. We all - big or
offered to young people and families are stable, and I wondered was I the problem. small, man or woman, black or white -
done so within the context of their overall Was I good enough or clever enough? I have issues and try to cope by holding
community supports. came from nothing. I left home at 15 with them in.
In its first ten months of operation, Jigsaw a bag of clothes. Jigsaw is what you make of it. It’s what
has served over 400 young people. Services When I was doing my apprenticeship at you put into it. When I first went, I used to
provided can be categorised under three college, I used not to talk much. I couldn’t sit with my case worker with tears pouring
broad headings: hang out with so-called normal people. down my face. I never used to cry. I saw
• 30 per cent brief intervention (engagement I didn’t blame other people for the way any kind of emotion, especially tears, as a
with support worker for one to three I felt, but I wanted to feel differently. My form of weakness. Now, having emotion,
sessions); partner is a social care worker and she having lived, I realize that we’re all the
• 30 per cent prolonged engagement. This told me about Jigsaw. When I first thought same. life isn’t easy for anyone.
is based on engagement with a support about going I felt myself worrying about I really want to thank kieran, my case
worker for a period of between six to eight what other people would think. Would I worker, for just being kieran, and the
sessions. A process of goal attainment be labelled as mad or psychotic? But I manager John, for having the idea of
scaling is used based on goals and/or needed a change, so I tried it. When I first Jigsaw and bringing it together, and the
outcomes that the young person wants got there I nearly didn’t go in. But I’m glad staff who are so nice and pleasant.
to achieve; I did. I’d love if they expanded Jigsaw,
• 40 per cent case consultation/case the staff are young and they treat me and have it for people in their 30s and
management. In this instance there may like their friend. they didn’t treat me like 40s. they should have a Jigsaw in
be several services involved in the young a patient and I didn’t feel like I was in a every county.
person’s care and it may or may not be clinic. really, you go in, have tea and a So, for your sake and no one else’s,
appropriate that Jigsaw gets directly chat. It’s like a drop-in centre – a home you should drop in and meet the team at
involved with the young person. Jigsaw’s from home – and if you need to talk, there Jigsaw. It’s not that bad.
role in this context is to ensure that there is are people to listen. It’s up to me what I life isn’t so bad. It’s like
a co-ordinated plan in place for the young do when I’m there. I can tell kieran, my a jigsaw. It eventually
person’s care at both a service level and case worker, that I want to get something comes together."
community level. off my chest, or I can sit there in complete
silence and meditate. I can meditate
One of the most heartening things about at home now too. I’ve learned how to “even if y
ou don
’t want
Jigsaw to date is the level to which young breathe deeply and let myself forget about
to talk, y
ou can just pop
males have engaged with the service – 53 my problems and worries.
in, relax f
or an hour and
per cent of service users are male and 47 Also there are great body therapy,
then
per cent female. I believe that this is down to meditation and relaxation techniques you
go – fr
ee of
charge
a number of factors; young people’s direct can learn. So even if you don’t want to
and with no hassl
e”
involvement in the planning, design and talk, you can just pop in, relax for an hour
delivery of the service, the quality environment and then go – free of charge and with no
and supports on offer, ease of access and hassle. really, people of all ages should
most importantly word of mouth. Word of be able to go in for meditation once a
mouth is a crucial selling point for Jigsaw week. Because of this group of people, I
Galway, as Jigsaw is a ‘product’ that we are personally feel relieved. I have got through
selling young people. Once they walk through some issues and have learned to deal
that door or pick up the phone they will make with others. I feel energised and enjoy my
up their minds very quickly as to whether this life now.
is a service they want to use or not.
health matters is 4.indd 17 27/11/2009 20:35:09
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