A charity for the prevention of self-harm and suicide
has recorded a 40% increase in attendance at its services in the first
six months of this year compared with the same period in 2011.This compares with 759 people who sought help for the same period in 2011.
Pieta House CEO Joan Freeman said the attendance was up because people were now "brave enough" to look for help. "It [the increase] is not necessarily because of more despair, but because people are now looking for help," said the qualified psychologist.
The figures released by the non-profit organisation also indicate that almost 20% of those who attended the charity were under the age of 18, including 149 girls and 52 boys.
A further 32% were aged between 18 and 25 years, including 197 women and 139 men, while 34% were between 26 and 44 years, including 185 men and 174 women.
Founded in 2006, the primary aim of Pieta House is to reduce suicide by helping people get through the acute stages of distress.
The charity has four suicide and self-harm crisis centres in Dublin and one centre in Limerick. There are plans to open another unit in Cork, as well as new centres in Galway, Roscrea, and Kerry in the next six months.
Ms Freeman hopes to open the doors of a centre at St Catherine’s, Highfield Lawn in the Cork City suburb of Bishopstown in December. The building will be leased from the Sisters of Mercy Southern Province at a nominal fee.
"The aim is to be open seven days a week and bank holidays. It’s also critical that we’re open until eight o’clock at night," said Ms Freeman. The centre will initially be staffed by six therapists, including psychologists, psychotherapists, and administration staff.
"This is very much a community project …creating a blanket approach to suicide prevention," said Ms Freeman who added that Pieta House would be engaging with all the other local suicide organisations.
* www.pieta.ie