Clare Haven saw an almost 14,500 per cent increase in the number of support texts sent last year.
In comparison to the 6 texts sent in 2019, 871 messages were sent to women in distress in this county amid the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
The number of women who reached out to the Ennis-based support organisation last year grew exponentially in comparison to the year prior.
Due to the impact of the pandemic on services, support calls, emails and texts did, and continue to, replace some in-person refuge and outreach contacts.
The voluntary organisation fielded 2,852 calls, 280 emails and 871 texts – an increase of 315%, 4,567% and 14,417% respectively.
796 helpline calls were received last year, a 21% increase on the year prior and a number which looks like it will be superseded again this year with the charity having recorded 652 calls from January to August of this year.
The impact of the pandemic on children in this county was also felt by Clare Haven, with a 318% increase in the number of child protection referrals.
The 117 referrals in 2020 compares to the 28 made in 2019 and aligns with national evidence of a 76% spike in child welfare and protection reports made to Tusla in the first six weeks of this year alone, with 76 referrals recorded by Clare Haven up until the end of August.
The in-person services provided by Clare Haven were worst affected by Covid-19 restrictions – with a 68% drop in the number of outreach support visits and a 59% decrease in the number of one-to-one refuge support sessions.
Overall, Clare Haven Services saw an increased demand on their services last year in line with the additional pressures brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and provided refuge to 75 women and 126 children in 2020,while up to the end of August this year 49 women and 82 children have been admitted.
