Teenagers with suicidal thoughts are reluctant to ring Childline because they think it is a service for children, whilst the Samaritans are ruled out because they wrongly believe it is just for older people, a Dublin mother who lost her son to suicide claimed yesterday.
Ms Maureen Bolger, from Tallaght, who is attempting to set up a dedicated helpline for teenagers, says the Government isn't doing enough to prevent young people from talking the same path as her 16-year-old son Darren who died 18 months ago.
Ms Bolger says Darren was a "happy go lucky" type who was always singing and joking around. One of life's mimics he had a knack of being able to imitate people after being with them for just a few minutes.
His suicide still mystifies Ms Bolger as he had good friends and a full life to lead.
"Teenagers think Childline is for very small kids. For abused kids and so on. Then they feel too young for the Samaritans.
"My son Darren had his suicide planned for three weeks. I think he just got fed up and couldn't see anything down the road. The Government has to stop burying its head in the sand when it comes to suicide. My son deserves to be more than a statistic." Ms Bolger says suicide prevention should be part of the curriculum in schools. She points out that Aware does a "Beat the Blues" programme, but says they they cannot go into schools unless they are invited.
The mother of three claims one school principal told her that schools often refuse to do suicide prevention programmes because they fear they are putting the topic into teenagers' heads.
"After Darren died about 14 of the guys he knew said they had all thought of suicide at one time. So it is in their head already. We have drug awareness programmes, does that mean students are going to go out and do drugs? Darren could still be alive if he did a 'Beat the Blues' programme." Ms Bolger is fundraising to train volunteers for Teen Line and the group is appealing for premises. She has petitioned the Government for assistance but funds have not been forthcoming.
The group needs thousands of euro to provide the necessary training for 30 volunteers to man the helpline.
Figures released by the Department of Health reveal that €17.5 million has been spent on suicide prevention over the last five years.
However, Ms Bolger says the problem is reaching "epidemic levels. Last year more than 500 people took their own lives in this country and 250 of them were under the age of 30.
"Between 18-24 years, seven men take their own lives for every woman."
Ms Bolger says she is particularly concerned about self-harm amongst teenage girls.
She said she was distressed to find it is common among girls on the brink of adulthood.
"What teenagers have to know is that when they commit suicide they ground themselves and their parents for life."
Ms Bolger's campaign for Teen Line can be contacted on 086 360 7626.