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THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT service, Samaritans, has today announced that it is to provide a new, free helpline number from next year.
The news comes as a result of it partnering with six of the largest telecoms companies in Ireland: BT Ireland; eircom/Meteor; O2; Three; UPC; and Vodafone.
Due to be operational in the first half of 2013, the new number will be 116 123.
In July of 2007, the European Commission reserved this number for use as an emotional support helpline for all EU member states.
As the only organisation in Ireland which meets the criteria set down by the European Commission – which includes its round the clock availability – Samaritans were allocated the number.
An initial funding of two years has been made available in order for the number to be free.
Announcing the news, the director of Samaritans Ireland, Suzanne Costello, said:
At present, Samaritans operates a lo-call helpline number, which received more than 400,000 calls over the past twelve months. Eircom has always generously supported this lo-call helpline.
The fact that the five other largest telecoms providers are now joining eircom to support Samaritans’ new helpline number is ground-breaking, and a great example of collaboration between the voluntary and commercial sectors.
Once up and running, the number will be free to those who are customers of the six telecoms companies, providing a annual value in excess of €400,000.
Believing that the current lo-call number remains a barrier to some, Costello hopes that having a freephone number will change this.
Welcoming the announcement was Minister of State at the Department of Health, Kathleen Lynch TD:
As Minister with responsibility for mental health, I am acutely aware of the vital work undertaken by Samaritans. The numbers taking their own lives in Ireland is at an all-time high and there is not a community in the country that has not been affected by the trauma and despair that surrounds suicide.
If you’d like to contact Samaritans in confidence, their phone number is 1850 60 90 90. For more, visit www.samaritans.org.
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The Samaritans is such invaluable service, it’s great to see this positive addition to what they already offer.
This is very good news for those in emotional turmoil. Calls to 1850 and 1890 numbers are very expensive (per minute) from mobiles.
Each Samaritans branch also has a “local” number which can be found here:
http://www.samaritans.org/talk_to_someone/find_my_local_branch/ireland.aspx
For example Dublin Samaritans is 018727700.
fantastic news! hopefully more can be done to support such great charities who desperately need funds to continue in operation…
Ok I’ll hold my depression off for a year so….:(
@Brian Horton For those for whom this is a serious matter, the current number still applies: 1850 60 90 90
Paul you may have missed the point. We know its the current number we just cant afford to ring it.
All them services should be free…
@ Paul my point was why does it need a year for this to happen. Apologies about not just saying that.
Ha ha ha ha very funny not you t**
If you can’t afford to ring, they’ll ring you back if you ask them to.
Also there are other numbers which are free life 1life – 1800 247 100
Depression as we know is a illness but like everything else its all in our heads…its not a ‘Real’ and tangable like an object as its a state of mind…but it causes a lot of problems for people that cannot dis-engage from it…if im feeling down i go for a good run…i feel great after for hours but thats not real either but it does the trick…so im happy then.
All in our heads…ye right. I’ve faced it everyday of my life. I grew up watching my mother suffer day in,day out. How many times do you think she heard the words “cheer up its all in your head”? I remember waking up one morning, finding a NOTE from her. The home was wrecked, i was only a kid. Gladly nothing happened.
I suffer from it also, but thanks to modern advances in technology, its manageable and i life a happy fulfilling life. I consider myself a fit bloke. Do you think a “run” will sort me it?
advances in medicine
David Im glad you made that comment & a lot of people in Ireland have the same view as you,even my parents. This is not an attack on you or them but the reason suicide is so high in Ireland is because of such beliefs & poor information. If something of a physical nature would stop my depression I would run a marathon every day. You have over simplified the problem. Depression is caused by many things & no one including doctors fully understand it.
David, I like to run but the “black dog” still creeps up on me now and again. Thankfully your comment was formed in your head and therefore is not “real”, so I won’t take offence.
If anyone reading this is suffering then please seek help. You will be supprised at the support and understanding you will recieve. The nature of this illness is sneaky and you may not know what is going on with you, if in doubt, check it out.
At the end of the day it’s just an illness, no more and no less!
Check out http://www.bridalbelles.ie a unique charity event which aims to raise money for Samaritans Ireland.
The night will give brides, bridemaids, grooms, groomsmen, former debs dates, people in bridal fancy dress and more the opportunity to relive some of their best moments and offers a great excuse to wear a wedding dress again. All details and tickets are available on the website.
Great news. Mick Collins must be fuming
Declan
You’re so wrong!
I’m actually delighted because this is an organisation without equal in terms of the service it operates with volunteers every single day.
No Boards of Directors or Chief Executives here to heap up the costs against the front door from the inside !
This is the way that charitable organisations should work but instead we’ve allowed them them become an industry in themselves with overbearing and arrogant Management teams who stalk the corridors of Leinster House all day and every day trying to sweeten the pot with a Junior Minister or two. Worse tha this are the specialist Communications Managers who work so hard to gain a cheap headline no matter what the truth.
So congratulations to the Samaritans for their exceptional work and dedicated people and this is one place my charity giving will reside.
Mick , I’m only having ye on. Fair point
This is great news more now than ever due to the present financial hardship our island brothers & sisters face. Many people feel depressed due to financial reasons, therefore a free call will go a small but meaningful way to make that vital first contact call which undoubtedly will save lives.
Wonderful organisation ,thankfully always there to listen and offer advise ,support to the needy.
If ever you have a few bob to spare send it to them as they do a great job.
Why the wait till next year. You can do nothing quick in this country.
about time. has been absurd to have a chargeable number. We are so behind with mental health issues.
Phone sex just got cheaper! (I kid, great news1)
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