Samaritans - Teen texts indicate a cry for help

THE downside of Ireland’s growing affluence is reflected in harrowing figures showing that more than 800 people contacted the Samaritans every day last year.

In a disturbing new trend, during the six-month period after a special text service was established, 85,000 teenagers contacted the support service.

A worrying aspect to this scenario is that teenagers are increasingly reliant on text messages rather than on contacting the Samaritans personally.

Yet, while texting may be a more sterile form of contact, it is how young people communicate today and from that viewpoint the deluge of text messages from teenagers is a deafening cry for help.