Calls to adult counselling service rose by 25% in 2008

A COUNSELLING service for adults who were victims of childhood abuse had its busiest year to date in 2008, new figures show.

The number of calls to Connect, the national adult counselling service, increased by almost 25 per cent to 6,000 last year.

Connect said that common problems associated with abuse, such as relationship and parenting difficulties, flashbacks and mental health problems, were among the issues regularly discussed by those who contacted the service.

Sexual abuse was reported by 22 per cent of callers. Of these, 61 per cent reported the abuse took place within the family, 27 per cent in the community and 12 per cent in institutions.

Anne Richardson of Connect said coverage of abuse-related events in the media often results in people coming forward to discuss their own problems.

“Abuse is often very much present in daily life here,” she said.

"We got a lot of calls recently after The Magdalene Sisterswas on television. I think people can be encouraged to come forward and discuss their problems by seeing something like this."

Ms Richardson said male victims of abuse were three times less likely to come forward to discuss experiences. Calls from women amounted to 76 per cent of Connect’s work last year.

The service wanted men to know there was “an anonymous support there to help them make the first step in getting over abuse”, she said.

The service is available at 1800 235 235. More information on Connect is available at www.connectcounselling.ie.