Samaritans answered almost 1,000 calls a day last year

Michael Bolton

Samaritans volunteers in Ireland answered almost 1,000 calls a day for help last year, the Ireland Impact Report shows.

The top concerns raised by callers were mental health, loneliness and isolation, and family.

Over 1,500 volunteers gave 70,000 hours of emotional support to callers over the course of the year.

The report shows 1,200 festival goers reached out to Samaritans for help while attending a festival last year, with over 50 people having suicidal thoughts.

Volunteers answered 345,000 calls, supporting people for 70,000 hours in Ireland last year.

In the North, over 600 volunteers answered more than 110,000 calls, supporting people for 30,000 hours

Sarah O’Toole, Executive Director of Samaritans Ireland, said: “Behind each call, email, or conversation, someone is looking for a connection, often in their most difficult hour. It is thanks to the dedication of our amazing volunteers, staff, and supporters that we are always here to listen.

“Answering 1,000 calls a day shows the scale of need for a listening ear, and the difference that human connection can make to someone who is struggling. Loneliness is also a consistent feature of calls to Samaritans.

“We also see this with our outreach work. With festival season kicking off, it is important that young people are aware of the emotional supports available and we will be at several festivals over the summer to support those struggling to cope."

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can freephone the Samaritans 24 hours a day for confidential support at 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.

Alternatively, the contact information for a range of mental health supports is available at mentalhealthireland.ie/get-support.

In the case of an emergency, or if you or someone you know is at risk of suicide or self-harm, dial 999/112.