Kodaline supports Console's suicide prevention work
Chart-topping group Kodaline has joined forces with national suicide prevention and bereavement charity, Console, to launch the charity’s new free helpline number 1800 247 247, and to spread the message that immediate help is available.
Console has seen a 32% rise in calls to its free helpline in the past year – with over 4,000 calls now being received every month.
'If you are facing a crisis, help is always just a free call away at any hour of the day or night, and the number couldn’t be easier to remember,” said Kodaline lead singer Steve Garrigan.
“Most of us don’t live in a perfect world, we have all been through difficult times and we want people to know Console is there if they are having dark days.
“Console’s free helpline is there 24/7 and there is no shame in talking about your worries, we all have them, and we all need support sometimes.'
Console are now receiving over 4,000 calls and seeing a substantial increase in texts to the helpline every month, according to CEO and founder Paul Kelly, with young people, in particular, really starting to get the message that help is immediately available.
“We now see not only people in suicidal crisis, but also their parents, friends and work colleagues calling for advice or referrals,' said Mr Kelly.
“Our helpline is a lifeline service, providing immediate intervention from highly-trained counsellors and clinicians who will refer callers to the services that they need. This is a lot different from providing a traditional listening service.
“As a 24-hour helpline, we provide an out of hours service that will back up the state services that are out there but may not be available.
“We have seen an increase in calls from young people, and in some cases, these are people who may have lost a friend through suicide and they are worried about their own safety.
“The helpline has also seen an marked change in the amount of calls from males over 30, which is an indication that a previously silent demographic is beginning to seek help when in crisis.'
This Saturday 7th June over 250 cyclists will also be getting on their bikes to spread Console’s free helpline message on a 200km cycle across the country.
The volunteers, wearing tee-shirts emblazoned with Console’s 1800 247 247 number, will set off early from the organisation's home town of Celbridge and cycle to Galway by evening.
“We will be handing out Console 1800 247 247 wristbands and other information en route so people are aware that hope and help are always available at Console,” said Paul Kelly.