SAMARITANS in Blackburn believe the September 11 terrorist attacks in America which apparently drove a woman to kill herself, were the trigger for many to seek help for underlying problems.

But, counsellors say, although problems like September 11, the Afghanistan conflict and foot and mouth were the catalyst for many to get help, in 99 per cent of cases, there was an underlying reason for their depression other than the international tragedies.

An inquest heard this week how Mary Kelly, of Belmont, had hanged herself just two days after the World Trade Centre attacks.

Mrs Kelly, a midwife at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, was said to be distressed by images of people jumping from the blazing towers.

She had turned to the counselling service at the hospital back in February and March this year before the attacks.

John from the Samaritans said: "I have no doubt that there were other problems in this lady's life and perhaps that awful attack was the last straw.

"She obviously could only see blackness for herself. When people undertake to take their own life they cannot see any other future for themselves, they are so desperate."

He added: "For most of us in England watching what happened at the World Trade Centre, if we did not know someone involved, we could just feel very, very sorry for those poor people who had relatives involved, or who were killed themselves."

The number of calls to the charity, both nationally and locally, he said, had gone up in the last two months, but there was almost always another reason for a caller's despair.

He said: "We have had some extra calls after September 11 and a few extra about things like foot and mouth.

"There have been three or four events recently which have triggered some of the calls off, but there have been underlying reasons. It is a point, such as September 11, which we have chatted about on the phone. But we are always here, whatever people are worried about."

Elaine Baker, director of personnel and development at Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS trust, said the staff counselling service was well used.

The majority of visits to her, which were confidential, were not about work issues, but personal ones, although as they were confidential, no-one had details of them other than the general issue.

She said: "Staff are free to contact our counsellor for anything they want. They can be work-related problems, family problems, relationships or even alcohol problems, any issue they need help on, but they are usually personal.

"We were one of the first trusts to offer such a service, which is now a requirement, partly to do with the pressures inherent in the job of working for a hospital."