Thousands of teens sign up to emotional support service
Around 2,000 teenagers registered for a special text-based emotional support service in its first 48 hours, it emerged today.
More than 4,500 have signed-up since its launch by Rehab just over a fortnight ago, which provides confidential information to young adults in the areas of relationships, suicide, teen issues, sexual and mental health.
The figure was revealed during a seminar on Suicide and the Internet, held in Killarney, Co Kerry, on the first of a five-day international suicide prevention conference.
Rehab’s Collette Ryan said the social support organisation was surprised with the numbers.
“Well it was set up during the Leaving Cert results so we did expect a large number, but yes we were surprised,” she said.
The free 24-hour service can be accessed by texting the word “Headsup” to 50424.
It aims to provide young people with easy access to a range of helplines and support services.
Designed for 16-24 year olds, Rehab says it is the first service of its kind in Ireland and highlights the way in which 21st century communication can benefit young people.
Today’s seminar focused on both the positive and negative roles that the internet can play in the lives of emotionally troubled young adults.
Safety officer with social networking site Bebo, Rachel O’Connell, who attended today’s seminar, said the website was committed to working with various agencies, such as the National Office for Suicide Prevention.
This comes after reports linking such sites with suicide attempts by young people.
But speakers also emphasised the benefits of using the internet to promote suicide prevention and provide support to youngsters in need.
The seminar marked the beginning of the five-day congress, ’Preventing Suicide Across the Lifespan: Dreams and Realities’, which is the first to take place in Ireland.
It will be officially launched tonight (Tuesday) and will involve more than 700 delegates from over 45 countries, including Irish and international suicide survivors, care-givers, researchers, policy makers and healthcare professionals.
Congress Chairman Dr John Connelly said: “The congress will tackle a broad mix of cross cultural issues, youth and gender suicide, child and adolescent suicide to name but a few.
“Attitudes to suicide in Ireland will also be addressed.
“The programme was developed to be as comprehensive as possible and address the key issues of suicide and suicide prevention.”
Around 500 people die by suicide every year in Ireland, while hospitals record around 11,000 cases of self-harm annually.
Ireland experienced one of the fastest rising suicide rates in the world during the 1980s and 1990s and of particular concern to health professionals is the rate of youth suicide, currently the fifth highest in the European Union for 15-24 year olds.
Speaking in advance of her address to the congress on Friday, President Mary McAleese said: “The issues surrounding suicide in all their painful, heartbreaking reality have lately become horribly familiar in Ireland.
“In particular, the plight of young men, who comprise forty per cent of all suicides here, is striking.
For this segment of society, suicide is now the biggest killer.
“After them, elderly men living alone comprise the second-highest at-risk group.
“The theme of this conference – Suicide Prevention across the Lifespan – could not, therefore, be more apposite to modern Ireland.”
The congress’s opening ceremony will take place tomorrow morning and will include addresses from Junior Health Minister Dr Jim Devins, Chief Medical Officer NI Dr Michael McBride, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Dr Jose Bertolote and Commissioner Robert Street of the Salvation Army.
