Calls from distressed farmers to a helpline have jumped by over 300% in the last six months, new figures have shown.

The Farm and Rural Stress Helpline is run by suicide prevention charity, Console, on behalf of the HSE. It is available 24 hours a day.

According to Console, over 5,200 callers contacted the helpline between March and September of this year, compared to just over 1,300 in the six months previous.

Some of these callers were in ‘great emotional pain and on the brink of ending their own lives', commented Console CEO, Paul Kelly.

The helpline received a particularly high number of calls in late spring and early summer, largely as a result of financial worries and concerns over the fodder shortage.

"Money worries coupled with rural isolation and a great sense of loneliness are the main problems. The fodder crisis in March and April saw calls to the helpline rise dramatically from 347 in February to 876 in April, with the situation putting a huge strain on people's marriages and relationships," Mr Kelly explained.

He said that many farmers had failed to get support from their banks and this, combined with feelings of isolation, had left some ‘feeling unable to cope'.

Console highlighted the issues of isolation and loneliness, which are ‘particularly acute' among single farmers living in rural areas.

"Rural communities have changed dramatically. A lack of public transport and little access to public services has served to increase isolation. We often find that callers living in remote areas have heightened anxiety about their own personal safety," Mr Kelly noted.

He described farmers as ‘naturally private people' and warned that they often do not talk about their problems, instead suffering in silence.

"It takes great courage for such people to pick up the phone and call our helpline," he said.

Mr Kelly explained that the helpline is manned by highly qualified and accredited counselors.

"We want to get the message out there to farmers that this is not just a listening service, that the Farm and Rural Stress Helpline can really help," he added.

The helpline can be reached on 1800 742 645.

Console also offers a 24-hour helpline on 1800 201 890.

For more information on the charity, click here