Revealed: Colleges to receive €5 million in mental health funding to third level students

Third level institutions are set to receive €5 million in mental health support, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today announced. 

The funding is an important investment in the wellbeing and support of students across the country. 

The Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Sligo is set to receive €491,405 in funding. 

Speaking today, Minister Harris said: “We know this generation are facing mental health challenges like no other.  

“The pressure our young people are facing requires important interventions at the right stage of their lives. 

“That is why we have provided €20.9 million to Higher Education Institutions since 2020. 

“Crucially, this has allowed universities to recruit additional Student Counsellors, additional Assistant Psychologists. 77 were hired last year alone. The funding this year will embed these services in our college campuses,” he said. 

Universities have the flexibility to use the funding to address the needs of their student population. They can engage a range of other important staff in this domain, such as clinical case managers, heads of service, mental health officers, framework implementation managers, admin staff, mental health nurses or GPs, etc. 

“This will also help us roll out national projects including a 24/7 peer service, the establishment of a national office for the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland and a new data building service to establish a research network of researchers in the area of suicide and self-harm,” Minister Harris added.