3 days Ago By Ríona Maguire
CHRISTMAS can be a tough time of year for many people - and there has been a huge rise in the call-out for support across Ireland recently. And the festive season can be one of the busiest times of year for charities who are helping the less fortunate as it can be a period fraught with tension, stress, and anxiety. According to the HSE , one in every four Irish people will experience a mental health problem during his or her lifetime.
Depression is the most common condition, affecting 450,000 Irish people at any one time. At Christmas, the increased time spent at home during the holidays can be tough for some whilst others struggle with changes to their routine, loneliness, increased stress or anxiety or financial hardship. But no matter the problem, help is always out there if you need it.
Here’s 12 great organisations working to help the vulnerable in Ireland this Christmas and how to contact them if you need them. Samaritans Ireland offers emotional support to anyone in distress or struggling to cope. Every seven seconds, the service respond to a call for help with no judgement and no pressure and they promise to be there "for anyone who needs someone".
Their mission is "working together to make sure fewer people die by suicide". Samaritans freephone is 116 123 and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and volunteers will be on duty throughout the holidays, including on Christmas Day. www.
samaritans.org ALONE are working to support older people who are suffering from loneliness - which can be particularly tough at this time of year. Their Support & Befriending service provides companionship to older people who would like extra social contact through a weekly volunteer visit or telephone call while their coordinated support service provides practical support.
The charity has urged people to share their warmth with older people this Christmas and call into a neighbour or relative that may need support. By the end of December, they expect to have supported around 40,000 older people across 2024, made nearly 300,000 phone calls and delivered over 1,000 Christmas dinners across the country. You can phone 0818 222 024 available 8am to 8pm everyday or visit alone.
ie . Barnardos’ core purpose is to help the most vulnerable children in society achieve their full potential and they work directly with both kids and their parents. It provided 25 per cent more services last year and demand is still growing - meaning that for a lot of families out there, things are getting worse instead of better and there will be ever more cold Christmases than last year.
Their Partnership with Parents Programme works with parents on relationship and communication with a child, child behaviour, routines, education, physical development and crisis management. Their Friendship Group is for children aged between six and years or nine to 11-years-old who are struggling with friendships or experiencing isolation and their Family Welfare Conferences involves a special family meeting supported by professionals to discuss concerns about a child’s welfare. You can freephone 1800 910 123 from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday or visit barnardos.
ie . Childline is Ireland's 24-hour national listening service for young people up to the age of 18. Children can talk with Childline in confidence, about anything that might be on their mind without judgement.
They say: "We're there to listen and we’ll help you to figure out the best solution for you." Childline try to empower, support and protect young people every day. You don’t have to have a problem to talk to Childline.
You can contact Childline for free at any time of the day or night by calling 1800 66 66 66 , texting 50101 or texting live on their website childline.ie SOSAD offer support and services for people who are struggling with suicidal ideation, self harming, depression, bereavement, stress and anxiety, or if you simply need to talk. The Save Our Sons and Daughters charity reached 1, 251 people in the first half of 2024 through its one-to-one counselling services, a whopping 20.
64 per cent increase from the 1,037 clients served in the first half of 2023. They offer free professional counselling to those aged over 16 in need, and crisis support. The charity also runs a drop- in service to those who are actively in crisis between 10am and 6pm Monday to Friday if you need to speak to someone in a safe and welcoming environment.
You can reach SOSAD by calling the 24h helpline number 1800 901 909 or visiting sosadireland.ie The Women's Aid helpline offers confidential information, support and understanding to women in Ireland who are being abused by current or former boyfriends, partners or husbands. The service also supports family members, friends, and professionals who have concerns about a person, they know or are working with, who might be experiencing domestic violence and abuse.
The helpline aims to empower women to identify what is happening for them within their relationship and support them to stay safe and support the safety of any children living within the relationship. It aims to at all times ensure that the responsibility for the abuse is placed firmly with the perpetrator of the abuse. Free phone is 1800 341 900, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
www.womensaid.ie One in seven men in Ireland experience domestic abuse, including non-visible abuse such as coercive control or parental alienation, and male victims are less likely to ask for help than women.
Men’s Aid Ireland formerly known as Amen, is the only dedicated national service supporting men and their families experiencing domestic violence in Ireland. Their professional and qualified support team have years of experience in supporting men and families experiencing domestic abuse. They offer a confidential helpline, legal clinic, one to one practical support, court accompaniment and outreach clinics - with their 2023 services soaring in demand by 57 per cent on 2020.
The charity helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm for men aged over 18 by phone at 01 554 3811. You can also email [email protected] or visit mensaid.
ie . Jigsaw offer a listening ear and give expert mental health advice and support, online and in person, to young people across Ireland aged 12-25 years. They offer online mental health support to young people, parents, and those who work with young people.
You can find expert information, practical advice, workshops and online courses created by Jigsaw clinicians and youth volunteers on their site. Free phone is 1800 544729 1pm to 5pm Monday to Friday or text CALL ME to 086 180 3880 with your preferred day and time for a call or visit www.jigsaw.
ie . Pieta provides free therapy to those engaging in self-harm, with suicidal ideation, or bereaved by suicide. All of their services are provided free of charge and no referral is needed.
On Christmas Day last year, Pieta, received 70 calls and 142 texts from people contemplating suicide or self-harm to their 24/7 crisis helpline - and they expect numbers to increase this year. Pieta’s 24/7 crisis helpline remains open every day of the year, including Christmas, ensuring that no one has to face their struggles alone. Freephone 1800 247 247, text HELP to 51444 or visit www.
pieta.ie . Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is a national organisation offering a wide range of services to any person affected by rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment or childhood sexual abuse.
They take calls from people of all ages, creeds, ethnic groups and orientations. Counsellors will also speak with friends, relatives and concerned persons as well as take general queries. Their services include webchat support, one-to-one counselling, court accompaniment and outreach services.
Free phone is 1800 77 88 88, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit www.drcc.ie .
More than 450,000 people in Ireland experience depression at any one time but many hide their condition and never get help. Aware offer information and support to anyone over 18 experiencing depression or bipolar. They offer a phone Support and Self Care Peer Group for people experiencing anxiety, mild to moderate depression, bipolar disorder and mood-related conditions.
Aware’e Support Line is operational 365 days a year and is open every day during the Christmas period from 10am to 10pm. The freephone support line is available on 1800 80 48 48 or visit aware.ie .
Turn2Me is a safe, anonymous, and confidential space for you to gain support for your mental health online. They offer up to six free counselling sessions for adults online via instant chat, video or email and host support groups online on a wide range of issues. The charity also proves peer support online, which is a safe and moderated space to gain support or give it to others, a free meditation programme and a free thought catcher online mood diary.
More than 120,000 users have registered since Turn2Me founded and over 75,000 counselling sessions have been provided by the charity. These resources are available to any adult experiencing loneliness, anxiety, or stress during the festive season, on Turn2Me.ie .
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