Sixteen per cent of the calls . . . 48,000 callers . . .were from people who were on the brink of suicide.

The Samaritans received 200,000 calls to its national telephone help-line, the report said. Another 100,000 contacts were made via email, letters and face-to-face meetings.

Figures recently released by the Central Statistics Office revealed that 134 of the 166 people who took their own lives in the first half of 2005 were men, and suicide is the biggest single cause of death of males aged between 16 and 25.

The charity is now beginning a new campaign which will allow for communication in nine languages, so as to target members of Ireland's growing immigrant community.

The service is provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by over 1,800 volunteers. It can be contacted on 1850 609090.