Calls to the National Rape Crisis Helpline exceed 20,000 for the first time
CALLS TO THE National Rape Crisis Helpline broke the 20,000 mark for the first time last year.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) operates the 24-hour helpline to support anyone impacted by sexual violence in any part of the country.
Contacts with the helpline increased by over 20% last year when compared to 2023, to reach a record-high of 22,700.
The figures are contains in the DRCC's annual report for 2024, which will be published later.
Chief Executive of the DRCC, Rachel Morrogh, remarked that there is 'likely a number of drivers behind the increased demand for our 24-hour listening service'.
She said this includes 'survivors feeling increasingly confident about where to find non-judgmental support, but also the reality that sexual violence is still an insidious and common occurrence in modern Ireland'.
'Although we are encouraged by the marked rise in the number of survivors contacting us,' said Morrogh, 'we know that this is a fraction of the thousands of people living with trauma who have not yet sought support.
'Our message to them today is that they are not invisible to us, that they deserve support, and that when they feel ready to talk, we are ready to listen.'
However, the sharpest increase in activity across the DRCC's frontline supports was within its therapy service.
DRCC's counsellors held almost 6,000 counselling sessions with survivors, an increase of 57% compared to 2023.
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Some 637 men and women were also supported by specialised counselling.
The number of therapy clients meanwhile increased by 28%, or 140 people.
Morrogh also remarked that the Central Statistics Office has reported that 'tiny numbers of people who have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime have reported it to the Gardai'.
'There are many reasons for this, ranging from a fear of not being believed or thinking they are in some way to blame or that what happened was not serious enough,' said Morrogh.
The DRCC also had 287 days of supporting clients for court and other hearings, and Morrogh said the organisation is 'honoured to support our clients through the justice system, which can be a very difficult process for many'.
'Every time there is a conviction and sentence for a sexual offence, we know it is felt as a victory for those who will never have their day in court or have the validation and catharsis of a guilty verdict,' said Morrogh.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the 2024 report, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan noted that sexual violence is a crime that has historically been underreported.
'This is something I am committed to addressing, and something that is changing as complainants become more confident in our justice system,' said O'Callaghan.
DRCC operates the National 24-hour Helpline 1800 778888 to support anyone affected by sexual violence in any part of the country.
A webchat support service is available online at
drcc.ie
from Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm.
A Helpline Interpreting Service is available for those who do not speak English – more at
https://bit.ly/DRCClang
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Dublin Live
6 days ago
- Dublin Live
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre receive 'hugely concerning' record number of calls
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Calls to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre reached a record high last year, the organisation has revealed. The almost 23,000 contacts made to the centre's helpline in 2024 represented the highest in the DRCC's 46-year history. The figures were contained in the organisation's annual report published on Thursday. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan, who will launch the report in Dublin on Thursday morning, said the figures were 'hugely concerning'. He said: 'Sexual violence is a crime that has historically been under-reported and this is something I am committed to addressing, and something that is changing as complainants become more confident in our justice system. 'Many of the figures and statistics in this latest report from Dublin Rape Crisis Centre are hugely concerning but I am encouraged that a significant percentage of those who seek support from DRCC also report to An Garda Siochana.' Mr O'Callaghan commended the 'excellent work and unwavering commitment' of the centre. Chief executive of DRCC Rachel Morrogh said contacts with the helpline broke the 20,000 mark for the first time in 2024, reaching a total of 22,700. She said: 'In fact, engagement with the National Helpline increased by over 20% from 2023, bringing the number of contacts to almost 23,000. There are likely a number of drivers behind the increased demand for our 24-hour listening service, including that survivors feel increasingly confident about where to find non-judgmental support, but also the reality that sexual violence is still an insidious and common occurrence in modern Ireland. 'Although we are encouraged by the marked rise in the number of survivors contacting us, we know that this is a fraction of the thousands of people living with trauma who have not yet sought support. Our message to them today is that they are not invisible to us, that they deserve support, and that when they feel ready to talk, we are ready to listen.' Ms Morrogh said the sharpest increase in activity across the organisation's frontline supports was reported by its therapy service. She said: 'Dublin Rape Crisis Centre's counsellors held almost 6,000 counselling sessions with survivors, an increase of 57% compared to 2023. 'Specialised counselling unlocks healing for many survivors of sexual violence and we are proud to have supported 637 women and men last year. The number of therapy clients increased by 28%, or 140 people. While many people choose not to make a report to An Garda Siochana about what happened to them, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre therapy clients do so at much higher rates than the national average. "The Central Statistics Office has reported that tiny numbers of people who have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime have reported it to the Gardai. There are many reasons for this, ranging from a fear of not being believed or thinking they are in some way to blame or that what happened was not serious enough. Amongst our new therapy clients last year however, the reporting rate was 27%. 'We are honoured to support our clients through the justice system, which can be a very difficult process for many. Every time there is a conviction and sentence for a sexual offence, we know it is felt as a victory for those who will never have their day in court or have the validation and catharsis of a guilty verdict.' The 24-hour National Rape Crisis Helpline is available on 1800 778888 Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
The Journal
6 days ago
- The Journal
Calls to the National Rape Crisis Helpline exceed 20,000 for the first time
CALLS TO THE National Rape Crisis Helpline broke the 20,000 mark for the first time last year. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) operates the 24-hour helpline to support anyone impacted by sexual violence in any part of the country. Contacts with the helpline increased by over 20% last year when compared to 2023, to reach a record-high of 22,700. The figures are contains in the DRCC's annual report for 2024, which will be published later. Chief Executive of the DRCC, Rachel Morrogh, remarked that there is 'likely a number of drivers behind the increased demand for our 24-hour listening service'. She said this includes 'survivors feeling increasingly confident about where to find non-judgmental support, but also the reality that sexual violence is still an insidious and common occurrence in modern Ireland'. 'Although we are encouraged by the marked rise in the number of survivors contacting us,' said Morrogh, 'we know that this is a fraction of the thousands of people living with trauma who have not yet sought support. 'Our message to them today is that they are not invisible to us, that they deserve support, and that when they feel ready to talk, we are ready to listen.' However, the sharpest increase in activity across the DRCC's frontline supports was within its therapy service. DRCC's counsellors held almost 6,000 counselling sessions with survivors, an increase of 57% compared to 2023. Advertisement Some 637 men and women were also supported by specialised counselling. The number of therapy clients meanwhile increased by 28%, or 140 people. Morrogh also remarked that the Central Statistics Office has reported that 'tiny numbers of people who have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime have reported it to the Gardai'. 'There are many reasons for this, ranging from a fear of not being believed or thinking they are in some way to blame or that what happened was not serious enough,' said Morrogh. The DRCC also had 287 days of supporting clients for court and other hearings, and Morrogh said the organisation is 'honoured to support our clients through the justice system, which can be a very difficult process for many'. 'Every time there is a conviction and sentence for a sexual offence, we know it is felt as a victory for those who will never have their day in court or have the validation and catharsis of a guilty verdict,' said Morrogh. Speaking ahead of the launch of the 2024 report, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan noted that sexual violence is a crime that has historically been underreported. 'This is something I am committed to addressing, and something that is changing as complainants become more confident in our justice system,' said O'Callaghan. DRCC operates the National 24-hour Helpline 1800 778888 to support anyone affected by sexual violence in any part of the country. A webchat support service is available online at from Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm. A Helpline Interpreting Service is available for those who do not speak English – more at Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Irish Times
Phone calls and text messages to national rape crisis helpline surpass 20,000 for first time
The national rape crisis helpline received more than 20,000 contacts for the first time last year, underlying the 'scale of our sexual violence epidemic', the charity operating the service has said. Publishing its annual report on Thursday, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) said the number of contacts for 2024 marked a 22 per cent increase on 2023. Of the 22,700 calls and texts to its helpline, more than half (10,727) were from people contacting it for the first time. The charity also noted a 28 per cent increase in the number of people seeking therapy following rape or sexual violence. READ MORE 'More disclosures of rape and sexual violence were made to staff and volunteers than in any of the 46 years for which the organisation has existed,' the report says. Rachel Morrogh, chief executive of the charity, said there were 'likely a number of drivers' behind the increased demand, including survivors feeling increasingly confident about where to find support and the reality that sexual violence is still an insidious and common occurrence in modern Ireland'. As in previous years, most contacts related to rape as an adult (37 per cent), followed by child sexual abuse (28.7 per cent) and sexual assault as an adult (16.3 per cent). [ Younger men more likely than older men to victim-blame women who've been sexually assaulted, says study ] Sexual harassment was cited by 2 per cent of callers. Almost a sixth (16 per cent) of callers did not disclose the type of sexual violence they had experienced Most contacts (85 per cent) were from girls and women, with 14 per cent from boys and men and 1 per cent from 'other'. People in their 30s accounted for 19.3 per cent of contacts, while 19 per cent came from those in their 40s (19 per cent). People in their 50s made up 18.7 per cent of contacters. Those in their teens and 20s accounted for 35.8 per cent and people over 60 accounted for 8.2 per cent. Among the issues that came up 'regularly' on the helpline was of drinks being 'spiked'. Callers expressed 'confusion and anxiety at their lack of clear memory of the abuse'. Some were assaulted while away and had received medical attention and made police reports abroad. Some returned home 'as quickly as possible' to attend a sexual assault treatment unit (SATU) in Ireland. The charity recorded 'phenomenal growth' in the number of therapy appointments offered during last year, rising by 57 per cent, compared to 2023, to 5,916. More than half the new therapy clients (55 per cent) had suffered other violence in addition to sexual violence including physical and psychological abuse, coercive control, drink-spiking, trafficking, stalking and threats to kill. 'We have also been troubled and upset to hear anecdotally of a growing number of clients who reference physical restraints being used by perpetrators as part of a sexual assault,' the report says. This echoes findings in the 2023 annual report from the HSE's SATU, which found physical restraints were used in 38 per cent of the incidents they recorded, a rise of 6 per cent compared with 2022. Restraint by the throat was recorded in 77, of 7 per cent, of attendances, the SATU said. DRCC chair Annemarie James called for greater regulation of harmful and misogynistic content on social media platforms. She said there was a need for laws and regulations that 'keep pace with emerging threats'. 'There are real-world consequences of legislative inaction and Dublin Rape Crisis Centre clients are bearing those consequences,' she said. 'The violence, cruelty and harm of online content is informing acts of sexual violence and urgently needs much stronger and braver regulation to better protect people.' The 24-hour national rape crisis helpline can be reached on 1800 77 88 88
