Increase in people texting suicide prevention helpline

There has been an increase of 49% in the number of people texting a helpline run by the suicide charity Console.

Two-thirds of the texts are coming from young men - who are four times more likely than women to take their own lives.

Paul Kelly, Chief Executive of Console, said that it is a major breakthrough in enabling young men at risk of suicide to reach out for help.

"Up until now, about 61% of the calls we get to our 24 hour suicide prevention helpline are from women," said Mr Kelly.

"That's a concern to us because of the high rate of suicide among young men. So when we analysed figures we wanted to find a way to reach young men, and the texting service and social media became the way forward."