Volunteers working at the Stichting 113 suicide prevention agency dealt with 93,000 calls last year, three times the figure in 2016, Trouw reported on Tuesday.

Although the number of calls to the hotline was up sharply, the number of suicides in the Netherlands remains stable at around 1,800 a year, the paper said.

The organisation puts much of the rise down to more public awareness about the hotline. The lack of other services for people with suicidal thoughts may also be an issue. Half the youngsters who call the hotline are not being treated elsewhere, Trouw said.

The hotline says that suicide prevention should become a compulsory part of doctors’ and healthcare workers’ training because many are not aware of the signs to look out for.

Last October it emerged that two people had committed suicide after trying to dial 113 – which is a non-existent helpline. The actual number for the service is 0900-0113.

Ministers have said they want to change the helpline number to 113 as soon as possible, but ‘much depends on technology and manpower’. In the meantime, people dialing 113 will hear a message telling them the correct number to ring.