Christmas period a busy time for suicide charity

Suicide prevention charity Pieta House said that the Christmas to New Year period is one of the busiest times for their services.

It said that there is a high demand for their services in the days after Christmas and before the New Year.

The service, which helps people at risk of suicide and self harm, said that they helped more than 5,000 people this year.

Chief clinical officer with Pieta house, Cindy O'Connor, explained why people can find the New Year particularly difficult.

"It can be a very difficult time, thinking of heading into a new year, with little supports," she said.

"So really it’s just us being mindful that it’s not just about Christmas Day, we can make a massive difference for people if we stay connected, and we are present and available to them."