A HSE-funded text service is telling the public 'You Have it In You'.
50808 is calling on volunteers to help answer texts from those who are struggling with their mental health.
The 24/7 free text service currently works with over 300 volunteers, given training and support by counselling experts.
Speaking to Beat News, Norma O'Leary says people do have that inner strength.
"It can be kind of intimidating if you think about the work we do but if you look back at your own life and put it into perspective. People very close to you, your friends, family and colleagues, they have issues and they go through times of adversity and you often provide support to them and you often make them feel better and it can be just words of encouragement but that can make such a difference.
So we believe that people have those intrinsic skills in them to be wonderful volunteers."
The 50808 text line supported over 50,000 conversations in 2021, but are looking for volunteers to further expand the service.
Norma says volunteers will get all the help they need;
"And should they sign up to be a volunteer, there's a 30 hour 6 week very structured training programme, and on the platform itself, there's very experienced supervisors all with at least masters level qualifications in mental health so you're never alone on the service.
We just feel like so many people have those skills but may not even know they have them and it would wonderful to make a difference to people who really need them. "
