Rethink Ireland and ALC support the digital mapping of the Irish mental health ecosystem

As part of the ongoing collaboration between Agirre Lehendakaria Center and Rethink Ireland, a new working session with members of the Community of Practice (CoP) on Mental Health took place on 24 June. The session, which brought together around 25 participants, focused on advancing the collective mapping of key actors and relationships within Ireland’s social innovation ecosystem in the area of mental health.

Following an opening that emphasised the importance of active and sustained participation, the group revisited key insights from earlier phases of the process. Here, mapping is understood not as a static exercise, but as a dynamic tool to visualise interdependencies, identify gaps, and strengthen strategic connections across a diverse network of actors.

In small group discussions, participants explored the relationships between their own organisations and other relevant stakeholders. This exercise helped reveal patterns of interconnection, organisations that appeared across multiple maps, and some notable absences. It also prompted reflection on how to engage actors who, despite their thematic relevance, have not yet become involved in the process.

After visualising these interconnections using the K Tool, participants recognised its value in better understanding their own positioning, accessing information about other organisations, and making the ecosystem’s dynamics more visible.

The session closed with a shared reflection on which actors should be prioritised in the next phase of the listening and co-creation process, as the CoP continues to evolve and deepen its collective work.