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Dublin Live
29-05-2025
- 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.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Youthline Records 50-Year High In Demand For Its Mental Health Services
Press Release – Youthline Youthline urgently calls on the Government to prioritise youth mental health in the Budget In March this year alone,Youthline Auckland is reporting a massive 246% spike in access to its youth therapy services, compared to the year prior The Youthline 24/7 National Helpline is increasingly becoming a crisis response line for young people experiencing significant mental health distress. The youth mental health organisation Youthline is reporting a 50-year record high in demand for its services. It's an alarming upward trend that shows no signs of abating and is in fact on the rise. The charity is making an urgent appeal to Government to prioritise and invest in youth mental health in the upcoming 2025 Budget. Shae Ronald, CEO, Youthline, said the UNICEF Innocenti Report Card 19: Fragile Gains – Child Wellbeing at Risk in an Unpredictable World made sobering reading when it was released late last week. UNICEF's latest report highlighted New Zealand as having some of the worst youth mental health outcomes among high-income countries. 'It's just further confirmation of what we are experiencing first-hand on the frontline of the youth mental health crisis. Our own Youthline State of the Generation 2023 reported increased levels of youth mental health distress since COVID 19 and this trend is reflected internationally. 'We strongly urge the Government to focus on young people and invest in helping them get the help they need. That includes prevention, early intervention and crisis support. It requires a collaborative, all community approach, with young people involved in shaping the solutions, at the centre.' In March this year alone, Youthline Auckland experienced a 246% increase in counselling services being accessed compared to the year prior. In addition, one third of contacts to the national Helpline are now deemed high risk relating to suicide, self-harm or abuse. In the first quarter, Youthline experienced a 20% increase in high-risk contacts with a 24% increase in the number of contacts requiring external intervention, evidence of a further escalation in the severity of contacts being dealt with. However, Youthline Auckland is budgeted to make a significant loss of over $600,000 in the next year (April 2025 – March 2026). 'The reality is that our services have never been more in demand, and ironically, we're facing a big shortfall in our operational costs to keep delivering our services in the next year. We really appreciate the funding we receive from the Government, our partners and supporters that enables us to be there for young people when they need us most. We urgently need more funding to ensure we can keep being there for young people who are reaching out for help in record numbers,' Ronald concluded. Liz Hosking-Clement, Clinical Improvement Lead, Youthline, says the 24/7 National Helpline is increasingly becoming a crisis response line. 'We're seeing an unprecedented number of young people reach out for support, our reporting indicates a marked increase in the number of risk-related concerns being disclosed to our services, including risks of harm to self, harm to others, and harm from others,' she said. In the first quarter of this year, there has been a steep increase in our external referrals for emergency or very high-risk situations, with increasing engagement required with Emergency services, Oranga Tamariki, and mental health crisis teams. Hosking-Clement said the UNICEF report card around New Zealand's youth mental health was disappointing but unsurprising. 'It just confirms what our front-line clinicians are seeing every day – young people feeling suicidal or self-harming, struggling with bullying, experiencing abuse, and struggling with their mental health. Our health sector has spent a lot of time and resources telling young people to reach out for support when they need it, so we need to make sure Youthline is here to deliver and meet the demand so that we can continue to do the critical mahi when it comes to supporting and keeping our young people and their whānau safe. 'Youthline is advocating for the Government to invest meaningfully in young people as the future of our country. Young people should be able to access support easily, without confusion or delay,' said Hosking-Clement. 'This requires sustained investment in services that young people trust. Services like Youthline that are visible, youth-friendly, and equipped to respond when young people reach out.'
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Scoop
Fiji: Speak Up, Take Action To Save Lives And Stop Femicide!
Press Release – Fiji Women's Rights Movement We urgently call on every community to be vigilant in protecting our women and children who are living in abusive relationships. Domestic violence is not love it is power, control, and manipulation at its worst. The Fiji Women's Rights Movement (FWRM) is outraged by the recent spate of violence against women resulting in serious injuries along with the brutal murder of two women by their partners in separate incidents over the weekend. We urgently call on every community to be vigilant in protecting our women and children who are living in abusive relationships. Domestic violence is not love — it is power, control, and manipulation at its worst. How many more women and girls must be assaulted and murdered for us to say, enough is enough!? 'These are people's lives! These are women who mean the world to their children and their families and the people who love them. We cannot be bystanders anymore. Why are we not speaking up against perpetrators of violence? Women are cowering under the violence their partners inflict, women are running out of their houses with bruises on their bodies, black eyes and bloody faces. Why are we not jumping in to help save the lives of our women while we still can?' said FWRM Executive Director, Nalini Singh. We must recognise that women experiencing violence may not have access to a safe environment to report abuse or the necessary resources to leave violent relationships. It is important to consider the many intersecting factors that impact women facing domestic violence, rather than simply urging them to reach out for help, leave or report without addressing the broader systemic barriers they face. Two in three women have suffered intimate partner violence in Fiji at some point in their lives. Our research also found that it takes a woman more than two years (868 days) to report violence in Fiji and statistics show that the Pacific region has the highest prevalent rate of violence in the world. The economic cost of violence against women and girls in Fiji is estimated at over $300 million per year, roughly 7% of our annual GDP. 'It is not just a 'family matter. Telling ourselves 'It's not our business' doesn't just allow violence to continue — it makes us complicit. We need to speak up against perpetrators of violence. Your voice matters. Silence and indifference are not neutral acts. They are part of the problem,' Ms Singh said. If you see someone, if you know of someone or if you yourself have experienced domestic violence, please contact the National Helpline for Domestic Violence that can be reached free by dialing 1560 from any network.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Mrs. Doubtfire' Actor Shares 1 Heartbreaking Tip From Robin Williams: ‘I'll Never Forget It'
Matthew Lawrence says he'll 'never forget' the advice of his late co-star Robin Williams. The former child actor was only 12 years old when he starred opposite Williams in 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' the 1993 classic about a family struggling with divorce. Lawrence, who played Williams' son, told Entertainment Weekly on Thursday that they quietly bonded offscreen. 'He really explained his life to me and really brought me in and taught me not just about in front of the camera, but a lot about the behind the camera as well, and how he felt that substances really further pushed his brain to not function properly,' he told the outlet. 'And he really opened up with me, and I'll never forget it,' Lawrence continued. 'There were times he would just grab me, and he'd be like, 'Don't put that stuff in your body. If I could go back and tell myself, this is why I'm telling you, don't put that stuff in your body.'' Lawrence didn't specify any further, but Williams had struggled with using substances like cocaine and alcohol. The actor's death in 2014 from suicide shocked the world, particularly children of divorce who knew the late 63-year-old as the determined dad from 'Doubtfire.' 'He really quantified what it was to be a real artist for me,' Lawrence told EW, adding he 'was definitely the most brilliant artist I've ever worked with. But on top of that, he had the compassion, he had the humility, and he also had these things that he struggled with.' An autopsy later revealed that Williams had been living with Lewy body disease, a form of dementia that affects areas of the brain involved in movement, memory and thinking. Williams had openly discussed his substance struggles throughout his career and even shared past moments of relapsing with the world. In an interview with The Guardian in 2010, he recalled quitting alcohol in 1983, but starting again in 2003. 'I was in a small town where it's not the edge of the world, but you can see it from there, and then I thought: drinking … maybe drinking will help,' he told the outlet. 'Because I felt alone and afraid. It was that thing of working so much, and going fuck, maybe that will help.' Williams added, 'And it was the worst thing in the world.' Need help with substance use disorder or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline. 'Sixth Sense' Star Haley Joel Osment Arrested At California Ski Resort For Public Intoxication New Footage Shows Gene Hackman's Dog 'Guarding' Wife's Dead Body 'A F**king Mess': Trump Supporter Azealia Banks Slams 'Absolute Disaster' Presidency
USA Today
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Soap opera star Paul Danan's cause of death released
Soap opera star Paul Danan's cause of death released A cause of death for British soap opera star Paul Danan has been determined. The actor died in January from the combined toxicity of heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, cocaine and zopiclone, as well as benzodiazepine use, an officer with the Avon Coroner in England confirmed to USA TODAY on Wednesday. He was 46. Danan starred as Sol Patrick on the British soap opera "Hollyoaks" and appeared on reality shows like "Celebrity Big Brother" and "Celebrity Love Island." Representatives for Danan at Independent Creative Management announced his death in a statement on Instagram in January, per Variety and People. Fueled by fentanyl, drug overdose deaths have quadrupled in past 2 decades "It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of Paul Danan at just 46 years old," the statement said. "Known for his television presence, exceptional talent, and unwavering kindness, Paul was a beacon of light to so many. His untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him. During this difficult time, we kindly request respect and privacy for Paul's family, friends, and colleagues. No further comments will be made at this time." General Hospital' star Leslie Charleson' cause of death released Danan was scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 16, one day after his death, for a plea hearing after he was charged with possession of cocaine and cannabis, and he was accused of driving under the influence of drugs in October, according to the BBC. He previously opened up about a serious health scare last year. In an interview with The Sun published in June, Danan said it's "a miracle I'm here" after he was rushed to the hospital with respiratory failure that doctors attributed to his addiction to vaping. "I'm upstairs puffing away on my vape then suddenly I lost my breath and collapsed," he told the British tabloid. "My family called for an ambulance and started giving me CPR, then police arrived and took over before paramedics took me to hospital. I was on a machine in ICU and ended up with pneumonia. My family were warned I might not make it through the night. I'm so lucky." Danan added that a doctor told him that "if I ever smoke in any form again I risk being linked to an oxygen tank later on in life. She said that's it now." He said he had been sober for more than three years after previously struggling with substance abuse. If your or someone you know is struggling with substance use disorders, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. The service is free, confidential and available in English and Spanish.
