A NEW freephone Samaritans helpline for people with emotional difficulties will save lives, Minister of State for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch said yesterday.
The 116123 helpline will become operational by mid-2013 and will be staffed 24 hours daily all year round.
The State’s six largest telecommunications companies have agreed to pay the estimated annual costs of €400,000 over the next two years. Ms Lynch and Minister of State for Communications, Fergus O’Dowd both welcomed the announcement in Dublin of the “ground-breaking” agreement between the companies and the Samaritans.
More than 400,000 people contacted the Samaritans lo-call helpline over the past year and its director Suzanne Costello said even higher numbers were expected to use the new service.
Later yesterday, Ms Lynch launched a project to support positive mental health for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people.
The project, to be delivered by BeLong To Youth Services, is funded by the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention. It involves training of youth workers, volunteers and parents through BeLong’s 19 youth groups. Half of LGBT under-25s here have seriously thought of ending their lives and need particular support to address depression and other issues, BeLong said.
