The Waterford Samaritans say they’re taking upwards of 70 calls a day.

Nationally, the mental health charity’s suicide helpline received more than 500,000 calls in the past last year.

Out of those who contacted the charity, one third struggled with mental illness and 30% said they suffered from isolation and loneliness.

Anne Woodworth is Chairperson of the local branch of the Samaritans.

“Since the free call came in – 116113 – five years ago, our numbers of calls have increased hugely.

“We take 60/70 calls a day. We are pretty busy most of the time.

“Our busiest time is from about 7 or 8 o’clock in the evening until 4 o’clock in the morning because of course we work overnight as well.”

Anne Woodworth says that there are numerous reasons as to why people use their service.

“You can be definite about any one cause.

“Originally we were there to help people who were suicidal and about a third of our callers do express suicidal thoughts.

There are lonely people, people with mental illness, people who are separated, people who have financial problems, there are people who have nobody to talk to.

“About a week ago I was taking to someone who said he hadn’t been talking to a human being for a week and he wanted to talk to somebody.”