This and other data are detailed in DRCC’s annual report which will be launched in Dublin today by justice minister Helen McEntee.

The report shows the largest groups in contact with the freephone National Helpline in 2023 were women, first-time callers and those aged between 18 and 29 years of age.

The largest proportion of people contacting the Helpline wanted to discuss rape that had occurred as an adult (4 in 10), followed by childhood sexual abuse (1 in 3), and sexual assault as an adult (1 in 6).

Continuing the trend of recent years, many callers to the freephone 24-hour National Rape Crisis Helpline had mental health concerns, with over 500 calls relating to suicide ideation over the course of 2023. These calls were observed every month but there were spikes occurring in April, August and towards the end of the year. Helpline support workers also noted more callers expressing worry about homelessness and other concerns that compounded the trauma caused by sexual violence.

Speaking ahead of the launch of the report, Ms McEntee said: “The publication of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s annual report for 2023, showing 18,605 calls to the national 24-hour helpline, underlines the scale of the challenge that collectively we face, but also indicates that people are increasingly seeking support.

“While any report detailing an increase in calls to organisations such as DRCC is concerning, one of the key objectives in our Zero Tolerance Strategy to combat sexual and gender-based violence is to encourage victims to come forward and to report the crimes that are being committed against them.

“We are making significant progress in that. Nonetheless, many of the figures and statistics from last year are shocking, many of the insights harrowing.”

DRCC’s chief executive Rachel Morrogh said: “The data published today is evidence that the services of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre are vital supports for people who have experienced sexual violence and that these are needed by the community of survivors more than ever before.

“The report also points to some worrying trends that indicate considerable mental health needs amongst people affected by sexual violence. While mental health has always been a feature of the calls we handle, our Helpline Counsellors have reported a steady increase in the number of people who are expressing suicidal ideation to them during 2023. Issues that affect the wider population such as homelessness, family breakdowns and conflict, are compounding the mental health needs of our clients. Added to this is a regularly reinforced message from callers that they have slipped through the cracks of an already overburdened mental health system.

“A further concerning trend is that over recent years our therapists have heard from clients that additional forms of violence were inflicted on them and 2023 was no different in this regard. This additional violence may have occurred to facilitate a once-off sexual assault or may be part of a longer-term pattern of abuse. The types of violence that are allied to sexual violence can be physical or psychological and they could also be a contributing factor to the increase in acute mental health needs of some clients.”