A new online support service for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people will be available from next month.

The free and confidential service will be run by the LGBT Helpline and Gay Switchboard Ireland, which both currently provide telephone support and information for the LGBT community and their family and friends.

From July, this new service will be accessed via each organisation's website. Users will be able to chat in ‘real time' to trained volunteers.

The service will be available at the weekend during the summer months, but it will then be extended in the autumn.

The LGBT Helpline's online service will operate from 6.30pm to 9pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the summer, while Gay Switchboard Ireland's online service will operate from 6.30pm to 9pm on Friday, from 2pm to 6pm on Saturday and from 4pm to 6pm on Sunday.

"We have seen a huge increase in the level of traffic to our website and online messaging looking for support so we wanted to respond to that need. The top three visited pages provide information on LGBT, coming out, and getting support locally," explained LGBT Helpline coordinator, Paula Fagan.

She noted that over 60% of visitors to the LGBT Helpline website are under the age of 34 years.

"We believe that an instant online support service would appeal to that younger demographic. In the age of smartphones, it also provides a more discreet way for people to access instant help and support," she noted.

She pointed out that while the passing of the Marriage Equality Referendum in May signals major progress, ‘people still need support and it will take years to change the stigma for LGBT people'.

Meanwhile, according to Gay Switchboard Ireland director, Adam Shanley, its website has also seen an increase in traffic.

"We decided to explore an online support service in a bid to ensure that we adapt to the way in which LGBT people and their families seek support in a digital age. We have found that some service users can find it difficult to verbalise how they are feeling over the phone," he pointed out.

This new online support service will being operating on July 3.

To contact the LGBT Helpline, call 1890 929 539 or click here
To contact Gay Switchboard Ireland, call (01) 872 1055 or click here