Sexual abuse counselling service sees 39% increase in calls

There has been a 39% increase in the number of calls to the Connect counselling service for victims of sexual abuse.

The organisation has revealed that more than 6,200 calls were received by the helpline in the first nine months of this year.

There were just more than 4,500 calls to the service in the same period last year.

There has been a 10% increase in the number of calls from men.

Connect provides professional telephone based counselling, free of charge, to adult survivors of childhood abuse. The service is open from 6pm to 10pm Wednesday to Sunday.

Connect is now planning to provide extra opening hours surrounding the imminent launch of the Dublin Diocesan Report into clerical sexual abuse in Dublin.

Director of Connect, Anne Richardson, said: "It is important for survivors to know that professional counselling support is available to help them. Some may want to take part in a counselling programme for a period of time which may help them to take better control of their lives."

The number for Connect is freephone 1800 477 477 from the Republic of Ireland and 00800 477 477 77 from the North, or log on to www.connectcounselling.ie.