Out-of-hours counselling service calls rise by 1,400

AN out-of-hours phone counselling service received 1,400 more calls last year than in 2007, according to new statistics.

The HSE-funded National Adults Counselling Service, Connect, received 6,072 calls last year, its highest annual figure ever, the vast majority from people aged between 18 and 50 years.

The service received an average of 506 a month, with 76% of calls made by women. The number of calls received each month in 2007 was just 384.