<p>
	Teen-Line Ireland had a 54pc increase in calls throughout the year as more young people struggled with mental health issues.</p>
<p>
	The service is hoping to increase its helpline capacity this year, after a massive surge in demand saw the figure of 8,300 calls in 2012 rise to 12,785 calls during 2013.</p>
<p>
	Of the teens who made contact with the helpline, 107 had suicidal feelings, 36 had made a suicide attempt and 47 of the calls related to self-harm.</p>
<p>
	The organisation also reported that the caller was crying or silent in 2,643 of the calls logged by the service.</p>
<p>
	The Teen-Line Ireland figures show that the average age of callers during the year increased slightly from 16.6 years to 17.</p>
<p>
	The charity said that in 2013, there were more new callers accessing the service than previous years, and this was a positive development as teenagers are &quot;reaching out for support and someone to listen to them&quot;.</p>
<p>
	Its founder Maureen Bolger (55) said that it wants to expand the services that are currently available.</p>
<p>
	&quot;We are always looking to improve the service we offer, so next year, we hope to increase the helpline capacity by 25pc and extend the opening hours,&quot; she told the Herald.</p>
<p>
	BUSY</p>
<p>
	&quot;Our helpline is staffed by volunteers so to achieve this we need more volunteers.</p>
<p>
	&quot;We&#39;re asking people who would like to get involved to contact us on volunteer@teenline.ie.&quot;</p>
<p>
	The body said that people call the helpline with a myriad of issues &ndash; &quot;everything from problems with friends in school to quite complex family issues&quot;.</p>
<p>
	Meanwhile, the helpline reported being particularly busy over the Christmas season and received a large number of calls from teens who are regulars.</p>
<p>
	The charity started out with a handful of volunteers, but over the years the numbers giving up their time to help teens has increased.</p>
<p>
	Its volunteer base has increased to around 60 people, meaning it has more lines available each night to cater for the rise in demand for the service.</p>
<p>
	It said that the increase in the number of calls to the helpline shows that there is a greater awareness of the service</p>
<p>
	Teen-Line Ireland is a free-phone service which is open every day of the week from 8pm to 11pm.</p>
<p>
	It is also open early on Wednesday from 4pm to 11pm. All calls to the service are confidential.</p>
<p>
	The helpline is there to answer calls from teenagers from the ages of 13 to 19, however it does not refuse any calls it receives.</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.herald.ie/news/cries-for-help-to-teenline-increase-54pc-29896003.html">http://www.herald.ie/news/cries-for-help-to-teenline-increase-54pc-29896003.html</a></p>
