Calls to Console’s free suicide helpline rose by almost a third over the Christmas period.
An average of 165 calls a day were received by Console over the festive period, an increase of 31 per cent on the equivalent 10-day period last year
Console founder and CEO Paul Kelly said the rise in calls indicates the huge demand for its services.
“The Christmas period tends to be a very difficult time for some people who can feel very lonely and isolated and this, combined with their own personal circumstances, can lead some people to be very vulnerable at this time.”
He said the increase in calls means the charity’s message is getting though and he urged anyone who needs support to contact them .
“Callers to the helpline may be about to take their own lives or at the stage of having it planned, down to the fine details, with a firm intent on following through with it.
“Console helpline staff are trained to make an intervention if needed and we have seen a marked increase in our outgoing contact with the frontline emergency services such as the gardaí, ambulance or hospitals on behalf of callers.” Console offers counselling services and 24-hour support to people in crisis and those bereaved by suicide (Freephone 1800 247 247).
The charity has full-time counselling centres in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Wexford, Galway, Kerry and Mayo.
It also offers services in Kildare and Athlone and has recently opened in London.