Surge in calls to suicide prevention helpline

One of Ireland’s dedicated 24-hour suicide prevention helplines has received an almost 10% spike in calls from people worried that a family member is at risk of suicide.

Statistics released by 1Life reveal that 22% of all daily calls it receives to its helpline are made between 10pm and 1am and in 25% of these calls, loneliness and isolation are recorded as significant factors.

The number of distressed callers citing financial stress or debt issues increasing from 11% in 2010 to 17% in 2012.