Education

Educational Bursaries

Mental Health Ireland’s Tony Leahy Bursary

Mental Health Ireland’s Tony Leahy Bursary supports a number of students each year on specific courses that support the promotion of mental health, recovery and peer support working. The Bursary prioritises peers/people with lived experience of mental health challenges, family members and supporters.

About Tony Leahy

The bursary is named in honour of our colleague and friend Tony Leahy, who sadly passed away in 2018. He understood that change could not happen in mental health services until all voices, lived experience, providers and supporters, were at the table. He was a true champion of recovery.

Bursary Details

Bursaries for successful applicants are up to 50% of course fees. Special category bursaries of up to 100% of course fees are available to successful applicants who are members of the Traveller and Roma communities and those who identify as an international protection applicant, a person granted international protection or a person who has been granted Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR) and a person experiencing homelessness. Terms & Conditions apply.

Course Applications

Applications for the Tony Leahy Bursary are invited from prospective students of the following courses:

• Certificate in Mental Health in the Community (Level 6), UCC
• Certificate in Peer Support Working in Mental Health (Level 8), DCU

Prospective students must also apply directly to the course providers for a place on their chosen course. The closing date for applications is 17th August 2025. Please click on the button below to complete and submit the application form.

Our Partners

Mental Health Ireland is proud to partner with University College Cork and Dublin City University to offer  third level certificate courses which support the promotion of mental health, recovery and peer support working.

University College Cork (UCC)
Certificate in Mental Health in the Community

Discover the Certificate in Mental Health in the Community- a part-time, innovative programme designed to boost your knowledge, skills, and values around mental health, wellbeing, and recovery. Explore evidence-based recovery approaches, current mental health debates, community-based support strategies/resources, and interventions.  Offered by Adult Continuing Education UCC in partnership with Mental Health Ireland, this programme empowers you to make a real difference in your life, workplace, and community. For more details, contact the programme coordinator, Brenda Healy, at b.healy@ucc.ie

Dublin City University (DCU)
Certificate in Peer Support Working in Mental Health

The Certificate in Peer Support Working in Mental Health is a year-long part-time course at level 8. The course is open to peer support and family peer support worker students, and the course aims to broaden your perspective on mental health and peer support.
To apply for the course, you will need to have:

• Personal experience of mental ill health or have supported others with lived experience of mental ill health
• Secured a placement of 19 hours a week where you can practice as a peer support or family peer support worker

For more details on placement, entry requirements, or to attend an online open day, contact martha.griffin@dcu.ie