Younger people seeking help from Pieta

With more than 99,000 crisis calls and text received last year, suicide prevention charity Pieta is seeing a rising demand for its services, especially amongst younger people, writes Brian Byrne.

More than a third of the almost 6,900 clients who received free therapy treatment from Pieta were under 18, with 14 being the average age in this group — a lower age that the 16 average in 2020. More than half of all clients, 56pc, were under 25. Over 670 households were directly supported by Pieta’s Suicide Bereavement Liaison team.

The organisation's Annual Report for 2022 also reveals that 34pc of clients engaging with services have already attempted suicide.

That almost two thirds of those seeking help were female is interpreted by Pieta as probably reflecting the fact that younger men in crisis are less likely to seek help.

Some 80pc of Pieta's funding comes from public donations and participation in fundraising events, the balance from the state through the HSE. The Report notes the public funding last year was booted by 'Charlie Bird’s incredible Climb with Charlie event'.

Stephanie Manahan, Pieta CEO, says that in order to inject greater stability and certainty into the organisation, there should be scope to increase funding from Government, "in order to ensure Pieta, an important component in Ireland’s mental health services, can continue to provide critical services responding to the population’s needs into the future.”

The charity has centres nationwide and Pieta’s Freephone Crisis Helpline is open 24/7. All services are provided free of charge and no referral is needed. If you are in crisis, you can contact Pieta’s Crisis Helpline on 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444.

For more information and help visit www.pieta.ie. 

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