The national suicide prevention and bereavement charity, Console, is calling on people to think of those close to them who may be struggling to cope over the Christmas period.

Calls to the charity's helpline jumped by almost a third last Christmas and the festive period ‘can be an especially hard time for people', it said.

"You may not be aware that one of your friends may be in crisis and or in need of hope. For that reason, we are asking people to go to our Facebook page and share the Console Message of Hope graphic with our helpline and text number, letting people know that there is help and hope out there.

"In sharing the message you may not know which of your friends, or indeed their friends, may need help, but if they do, you could be helping to save a life this Christmas," explained Console founder and CEO, Paul Kelly.

He is also calling on people to save the helpline number into their own phones and call if you are in crisis yourself or are worried about someone else. All calls are answered by fully qualified professional staff.

"Console's helpline staff are trained to make an intervention if needed and we have seen a marked increase in our outgoing contact with the frontline emergency services such as the Gardai, ambulance or hospitals on behalf of callers.

"Callers to the helpline may be about to take their own lives or at the stage of having it planned down to the fine details with a firm intent on following through with it," Mr Kelly noted.

He pointed out that in the first six months of this year, Console recorded a 49% increase in texts to its helpline, with young men in particular using this method of contact.

In fact, around two in three texts to Console's helpline are from males and this is seen as a major breakthrough in suicide prevention, as men often do not make contact when in crisis.

Console can be reached at any time by calling 1800 247 247 or by texting 51444. More information on its services are also available here

Please share Console's Message of Hope on its Facebook page here