A 14-year-old girl has been dubbed the youngest caller to seek help from Lifeline Fiji recently.

That was revealed yesterday at the first Lifeline Youth consultation focusing on addressing Youth suicide in Fiji.

Lifeline Fiji chairperson Tiri Naulivou said the initiative would empower young people to assist themselves.

“It will also allow fellow young people to develop coping strategies to become more resilient in the face of mounting challenges faced by youths of today,” Ms Naulivou said.

National statistics given by the Fiji Police Force there is an average of 124 suicide deaths per year in Fiji.

630 completed suicides in the last five years.

According to statistics a total of 1199 suicide and attempted suicide cases were reported over the last five years, which is four times the total of the road death toll.

“In order for Lifeline to develop a good coping mechanism, it’s important to hear from the youths themselves,” she said.

Lifeline Fiji is a non-governmental organisation that specialises in a crisis helpline where people call up for counselling.

Some of the issues the counsellors normally deal with over the phone are peer pressure, personal and family problems, and relationship issues.

20 Youth representatives from around Suva were gathered for the one day programme at the Ministry of Youth and Sports office in Waimanu Road, Suva.