The Derry branch of the Samaritans dealt with 27,000 calls last year, it has been revealed.
That is an increase of almost 1,000 from the previous year.
The figure was revealed by Lindsay Johnston, charity’s director in the city, at this afternoon’s meeting of the Health and Community Committee of Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Mrs Lindsay said the local branch dealt with 2,700 calls in August and a further 2,800 in September.
She said the figures gave “some idea” of calls being received by the Derry branch.
She added while the aim was to reduce deaths by suicide, they had also dealt with people struggling to deal with financial problems and difficulties as well as issue such as young people with eating disorders.
The meeting was told it costs £50,000 a year to run the Derry branch which only receives £17,000 in funding.