THERE has been an almost 50 per cent increase in the number of teenagers in distress calling Teen-Line, it has emerged.
A record number of almost 20,000 calls were made to the Tallaght -based facility, Ireland’s only dedicated teenage helpline.
This is a 49 per cent increase on the number of calls received in 2013. A mobile phone texting service launched in November 2014 received most 1,000 texts in the six weeks the service was open last year.
“Our helpline received 19,036 calls last year, this is the highest number of calls in a single year we have received since we opened the service in 2006,
? said Bronagh Logan, Manager of Teen-Line Ireland.
“Last year also saw the highest number of new callers contacting the helpline, but this is a positive development as it shows that awareness of the service is increasing calls and teenagers are picking up the phone to talk to us.
“We are delighted to have the mobile phone texting service up and running. This was our big aim for 2014 and we’re thrilled to offer this option to teenagers who may find talking difficult. Teenagers can access the text service by texting TEEN to 50015.
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Continuing a trend from last year there were three times the number of female callers to male callers in 2014. The most prevalent motivation for teenagers to contact the helpline was simply to talk to someone; second most common reason to call was loneliness, followed by relationship issues in third place.
“We have definitely seen a correlation between our Schools Programme and the increase in calls and new callers to the helpline,
? Ms Logan added.
“June had the highest call volume followed by April and anecdotal evidence would suggest that the stress of State exams and mock exams contributed to our lines being so busy.
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Teen-Line provides a national, non-directive, free telephone helpline and a mobile phone texting service for teenagers who may be feeling alone, worried or distressed.
The helpline and text service is open seven days a week from 8pm to 11pm with an extended service from 4pm to 11pm every Wednesday to cater to the many second level school half-days.
The service is run by volunteers who understand that young people need to be heard. They make no judgments and want to listen.
Teen-Line Ireland was founded by Maureen Bolger in 2006 following the death of her son, Darren who took his own life in 2003. Maureen wanted to provide a safe place for teenagers to talk.