Sometimes, all a person needs is a sympathetic ear – which is why problems with 'Listening' topped Supportline 179's problems last year at 2,066 calls.

The information was revealed in response to a Parliamentary Question by Silvio Parnis to Minister Chris Said this evening.

In 2011, Supportline received 17,539 phonecalls, 11,816 of which were genuine.

The calls were then broken down into further categories.

Other problems at the top of Supportline's list were loneliness, depression and mental health, as well as information services and a blanket term for problems called 'others'.

Supportline has two lines which can be reached 24 hours a day.

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  Problem by Year of Call 2011

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  Aids or HIV	6
  Alcohol	143
  Anxiety	223
  Behavioural problems	284
  Bereavement	37
  Bullying	62
  Child abuse – emotional	82
  Child abuse – internet	9
  Child abuse – neglect	182
  Child abuse – physical	117
  Child abuse – sexual	28
  Depression	754
  Disability related issues	26
  Domestic Abuse – emotional	180
  Domestic Abuse – neglect	25
  Domestic Abuse – physical	346
  Domestic Abuse – sexual	15
  Drugs	187
  Elderly	156
  Financial	44
  Fostering	55
  Gambling	22
  Gay related issues	8
  Homeless	175
  Housing related issues	20
  Information – internet	42
  Information – services	1230
  Legal issues	81
  Listening	2066
  Loneliness	780
  Marital or partners	525
  Medical or terminal illnesses	40
  Mental health	806
  Others	1839
  Parent-child relationship	534
  Persons in separation process	116
  Pregnancy related issues	16
  Rape	5
  Refugees	34
  Relationship problems and family problems	281
  Residential homes	5
  School related issues	26
  Sexuality related issues	15
  Single parents	19
  Single persons	2
  Suicide	27
  Unemployment	10
  Usury	8
  Volunteer called	123
  Totals	11816