A new dedicated information line for mental health has been launched.

The Your Mental Health Information Line is a confidential freephone service that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It aims to provide information on the various mental health supports and services that are available nationwide.

"This new dedicated phone line will provide help to those suffering from mental ill health, and their families, to access information when they need it most. If you or someone close to you is feeling low, depressed or even suicidal, it can seem like you have nowhere to turn.

"This new service will connect callers with a trained team member who will provide information about the services available nationally and in their area," commented the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, at the launch of the information line.

He acknowledged that many people face "huge challenges" in accessing mental heath care and he hopes that this new service will help them to get the care that they require when they need it.

Also speaking at the launch, the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly, explained that when he was appointed two years ago, he recognised that there were many good services throughout the country.

"However, it also became apparent pretty quickly that the vast majority of people did not know what the different service providers offered, what was available in their area, or how to get in touch with them. I decided we needed to have universal access to the more than 1,000 HSE-funded mental health services available to people across the country."

"This is the culmination of significant work over the past two years resulting in a team now being in place to take calls from the public on a 24/7 basis, all under one centralised telephone number," he said.

The service will connect callers with a team member who will provide information about the supports and services available both nationally and in their area.

The HSE is working in partnership with the National Ambulance Service to facilitate the information line.

Meanwhile, also speaking at the launch, the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, said that there are also plans to roll out online counselling initiatives and a national crisis textline "in the coming months".

The information line can be contacted on 1800 111 888. More information on mental health is also available here.