About
What is My World Survey 2?
Developed by UCD School of Psychology and Jigsaw, My World Survey 2 is Ireland’s largest and most comprehensive study of young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
It captures the views of more than 19,000 young people from across Ireland to understand what can lead to an increased risk of mental health difficulties, and what can help to protect and support a young person’s mental health and wellbeing.
It builds on the findings of My World Survey 1, the first ever survey of its kind in Ireland, published in 2012.
Why is young people's mental health a big issue for Ireland?
1,600,000
A third of Ireland’s population, 1.6 million people, is under 25 years old.
€8,200,000,000
Mental health difficulties cost Ireland’s economy €8.2 billion a year.
Mental health difficulties can influence a young person’s cognitive, emotional and social development, educational attainment and their potential to live a healthy and productive life.
Adolescence and early adulthood have been identified as the peak time for the onset of mental health difficulties. Despite this, many young people do not get support at this critical time. This has been described as a “crisis in care” internationally.
