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VOLUNTEERS AT THE Samaritans helpline received 520 calls on Christmas Day last month.
Over the entire Christmas period – from Saturday, 21 December 2013 to Sunday 5 January 2014 – they took 10,049 calls which represented 2,291 hours of listening time.
Statistics given to TheJournal.ie show the busiest day of the holiday period was Monday, 30 December during which 758 calls were taken. That figure is above the daily average of 672.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day saw totals that were below average with 525 and 578 calls taken respectively.
However, the busiest hour over the fortnight was on 1 January when 65 calls were made in just 60 minutes.
Usually, the most hectic hour for the helpline is midnight to 1am on Friday night/Saturday morning when an average of 44 calls are received.
A spokesperson for the charity said it is helpful to understand the behaviour of some callers when analysing calls.
“For anyone in distress, it can be enormously difficult to ask for help. Many people will ring several times before they feel comfortable enough to speak. These silent calls are recorded as calls to Samaritans’ service, and Samaritans volunteers will not end a silent call; they remain on the line until the person at the other end hangs up,” she explained.
The issues discussed with callers varied greatly, including but not limited to, depression, relationship problems, family issues, loneliness, physical and mental health issues, alcohol, drugs, self-harm, financial worries, illness, issues around sexuality and suicide ideation.
Currently, there are more than 2,000 volunteers across 13 branches of Samaritans Ireland. Each volunteer works about 15 hours per month.
Earlier figures showed that Childline responded to 1,450 calls, texts and other messages on Christmas Day. Another teen helpline has seen a 65 per cent increase in contact from young people across the country.
Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year. The organisation provides a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them. People can call 1850 60 90 90, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.ie to find details of the nearest branch and to learn more about our work.
Helplines:
Samaritans 1850 60 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org
Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634
Console 1800 201 890
Aware 1890 303 302
Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie
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I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but, A Star is Born, for all its hype, was a fairly bog standard, run of the mill, snooze fest.
The main song is a decent tune though.
@J.D. Finnerty: a remake of a remake, with a story as boring as it is predictable (even if you haven’t seen the others). Hard to believe it got such acclaim.
@J.D. Finnerty: Completely agree. Ga Ga was good but Bradley Cooper just annoys me. Main song was the only decent song in it.
@J.D. Finnerty: yeah, you’re on your own. Not met a single person yet who didn’t adore it. And that includes men who never cry. Who admitted crying.
@J.D. Finnerty: you should be alone in this. It was not bog standard at all
You Were Never Really Here had a screenplay???
The critics really hated Bohemian Rhapsody, while everyone that I know who watched adored it. I don’t get it. Malek has to win an Oscar. It’s the best acting performance I’ve seen in years.
@JJ O Riordan: huge fan of Freddie and the band but had to be honest the movie was a let down…. It’s like they tried sensoring everything
@JJ O Riordan: but Malek was brilliant to be honest. Will he win? I’d say Bradley Cooper will
@Nikas Peckeliunas: An outstanding performance, I saw a comparison someone did of Queen’s Live Aid set and that of Malek’s for the movie. Initially they started out somewhat sceptical but were truly astounded, Rami Malek had Freddie’s every move memorised, down to how he held the microphone, how he stood. Even the remaining band members blessed, themselves initially wary, gave this performance a glowing endorsement.
@Nikas Peckeliunas:
Spelling please, its censoring.
@Power Aine: it’s it’s.
Three billboards is head and shoulders above everything else…should have won the Oscar for best original screenplay…a fantastic read
@Damien Aulsberry: ya that was a brilliant movie imo.
@Damien Aulsberry: Cannot believe that 3 billboards doesn’t even the top 10 on this list. Much better movie than ladybird.
“First Man” is movie of the year for me by a long shot: absolutely one of the most moving and inspiring films I’ve ever seen. Deserves to clean up in awards for Cinematography, Sound & Editing, Adapted Screenplay, Direction and that wonderful score by Justin Hurwitz. Would give nods as well to Claire Foy as Janet Armstrong and Ryan Gosling for his suitably restrained and under-stated performance as Neil Armstrong.
@Sean May: I thought it was boring. An amazing achievement considering the subject matter
No point in watching them on Irish TV add free telly highly recommended ha
“upgrade” definitely the best Sci-fi movie of 2018 anyways.. If you haven’t checked it out, I’d highly recommended.. This is coming from a movie connoisseur :)
@Acedeuce: ” hereditary ” is also hands down the best horror movie of 2018.. Genuinely creepy, atmospheric, good acting.. No usual cheap jump scares. Solid proper horror film.
You were never really here and blackkklansman are 2 of the most rubbish films I’ve ever seen
@Kieran Stafford: yeah Blackkklansman was terrible. The handful of jokes were in the trailer.
Jingle all the way .. and .. Air Bud 3 ..both on T.v today
So she got away with it
Gosnell is worth a watch but it won’t be shown anywhere.
You Were Never Really Here had a screenplay??
have your say