UL researcher Sarah O’Leary to carry out research into adolescent mental health

Pictured (left to right) Sarah O’Leary, PhD scholar in Department of Psychology, UL and Professor Jennifer McMahon, Head of Department of Psychology, UL

UL PhD researcher Sarah O’Leary awarded funding to conduct research into adolescent mental health

A University of Limerick researcher has been awarded funding to conduct research into adolescent mental health, and the role emotion regulation can play for children and parents in promoting positive mental health.

PhD researcher Sarah O’Leary in the Department of Psychology has been awarded the scholarship from Research Ireland’s Enterprise Partnership Scheme to conduct this research in partnership with Jigsaw, the mental health charity that provides free therapy and support to young people living in Ireland.

“PEARL: Promoting Emotion Regulation and Positive Mental Health in Adolescents Through Leveraging Parental Engagement,” will develop and pilot a digital, scalable, emotion-focused parenting programme designed to support adolescent emotion regulation and promote positive mental health.

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PEARL has the potential to meaningfully impact the mental health and wellbeing of adolescents and their families, realising a key objective of Jigsaw’s national strategy to actively engage parents as partners in prevention/early-intervention. By equipping parents with practical tools to support parent/adolescent emotion regulation and mental health literacy, the project contributes to stepped-care innovation, offering a low-intensity, early-stage intervention.

The programme of work is supervised primarily by Professor Jennifer McMahon, Head of Department of Psychology, University of Limerick and expert in youth mental health in collaboration with a team that includes Professor Siobhán Howard from the Department of Psychology, along with Dr Jeff Moore, Research Director, Jigsaw Ireland and Fiona Hughes, Regional Clinical Manager, Jigsaw Ireland.

This collaboration brings together academic expertise and frontline youth mental health practice to address a critical gap in prevention. While adolescence is a key period of emotional development, it is also marked by increased vulnerability to mental health difficulties. Despite this, supports that actively engage parents and caregivers remain underdeveloped.

A central feature of the project is its participatory co-design approach, which brings together adolescents, parents, and youth mental health professionals to shape the programme, ensuring it is meaningful, accessible, and grounded in lived experience.

Reacting to her award, Sarah O’Leary said: “I am delighted to have been awarded this scholarship, and to undertake this research in partnership with Jigsaw. Working alongside a service that supports young people and families every day brings a real sense of purpose to the research and helps to ensure it stays connected to what matters most in practice. This project represents an important step in my development as a researcher, and an opportunity to contribute to work that can make a meaningful difference for young people and their families.”

The research team is currently engaging with parents (primary caregivers), young people aged 12 to 25, and professionals in youth mental health and family support through a series of consultations to inform the development of the programme.

Dr Jeff Moore said: “At Jigsaw, we work every day with young people and families, supporting their mental health through early intervention and accessible services in communities across Ireland. This partnership allows us to build on that work by bringing our frontline experience into the research process, helping to shape supports that strengthen families’ capacity to support their young person’s emotional wellbeing in everyday life.”

Professor Jennifer McMahon added: “Adolescence is a critical developmental period, with significant implications for long-term mental health and wellbeing. This project reflects the importance of supporting not only young people themselves, but also the parents and caregivers who play a central role in their emotional development. By combining rigorous research with co-design and real-world practice, this work has strong potential to inform preventative approaches that are both evidence-based and meaningful for families.”

The PEARL project is one of 38 enterprise-linked postgraduate research projects funded by Research Ireland worth €3 million through its Enterprise Partnership Scheme.

Through this co-funded model, postgraduate researchers gain valuable experience in applying their expertise beyond academia, while enterprise partners benefit from fresh perspectives and innovative solutions aligned with their goals.

The funded postgraduate projects announced today will tackle a wide range of topical issues, from improving patient care, to preserving Ireland’s natural heritage, and fostering inclusive communities.

Announcing the overall investment, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, commented: “Research Ireland is proud to support 35 PhD students and three research master’s students through this year’s Enterprise Partnership Postgraduate Scheme. Each early-career researcher will collaborate with a dedicated enterprise partner to tackle real-world economic and societal challenges. The projects announced today will connect emerging talent with organisations across the public and private sectors, creating collaborations that deliver impact for both academia and enterprise.”