Helpline launched less than a year ago gets 3,000 calls a month

A SUICIDE prevention helpline launched less than a year ago is receiving up to 3,000 calls a month.

The 24/7 suicide prevention helpline 1life was launched last October and its manager said the volume of calls has illustrated the urgent need for an out-of-hours service for those who need crisis intervention.

Ciaran Austin, whose brother died by suicide at 22, said the helpline had received calls from around the country at its centres in Dublin, Galway and Wexford, and that new centres are to be established in Cork and Limerick in the coming months.