Irish Support Organisations
This is a mental health and wellbeing message from the Irish Deaf Society.
If you or a family member has been affected by sexual abuse, or by news or programmes discussing abuse, please remember that you are not alone—support is available. While IDS does not provide this type of support directly, our Advocacy Department can help you understand information from English-language services and assist you in making contact with them.
We have a dedicated page on our website with information about available supports. You can contact the IDS Advocacy Service by text or video message at 086 440 1443, or by email at advocacy@irishdeafsociety.ie.
Our Advocacy Team always keeps your information private and confidential.
Emergency Services (Garda, Ambulance)
If you are a victim of assault, get to a safe place as quickly as possible. If you need emergency services text 112 or call 999. Pre-registration of your contact details is not necessary, but it can help make sure that emergency services have accurate information. Contact our Advocacy Department to find out more about this.
Click here to find out more about Emergency Services Text
Rape Crisis Centres
The Rape Crisis Centres do not offer services in ISL for Deaf people.
However, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre provides a text service operating Mon-Fri from 8am to 6:30pm, at 086-8238443 and they also have a webchat service on their website available Mon-Fri, 10am to 5pm (excluding Bank Holidays). You can email info@rcc.ie and their National 24-Hour Helpline for voice calls is1800 77 8888.
The Advocacy Department can support you to contact them, and we are advocating for Rape Crisis Centres to provide more accessible services.
Click here to find out more about Rape Crisis Centres.
Women’s Aid
Women’s Aid does not offer services in ISL for Deaf people. However, they have a page of ISL information on their website: https://www.womensaid.ie/get-help/information-in-sign-language/ . This page also has a link to “Instant Message Support.”
Women’s Aid have a text and fax service available to deaf women, text: 087 959 7980 (strictly for text use by deaf women) Fax: 01 868 4721. You can also email helpline@womensaid.ie and their National Freephone Helpline for voice calls is 1800 341 900 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Advocacy Department can support you to contact them, and we are advocating for Women’s Aid to provide more accessible services.
Men’s Aid
Men’s Aid does not offer services in ISL for Deaf people. You can email hello@mensaid.ie and their National Freephone Helpline for voice calls is 01 554 3811 Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:00.
The Advocacy Department can support you to contact them, and we are advocating for Women’s Aid to provide more accessible services.
HSE Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATU)
SATU provide specialist care for women and men who have recently been sexually assaulted or raped. If you are under 18 years of age you must have a parent or legal guardian with you to give permission for a forensic examination.
The Advocacy Department can support you to make contact with SATU and if Deaf people want to use HSE services they will provide ISL.
Click here to find out more about SATU.