Samaritans to go online

People will soon be able to e-mail the Samaritans

Wales is about to get its first Cyber-Samaritans with the unveiling of an online help service.

The group working in Bridgend, south Wales, is hoping younger people - who are becoming more and more likely to attempt suicide - will use the e-mail counselling service.

The announcement coincides with Samaritans Week.

After specialist training over the next few weeks, the new e-mail system will be in place at the end of the summer.

Volunteers at Bridgend will be answering the e-mails of people from across the world.

Suicidal thoughts

It is hoped young people will seek help by e-mailing [e-mail] before it is too late.

Throughout the UK, the Samaritans already receive more than 15,000 e-mails - a large proportion of them contain suicidal thoughts and intentions.

According to a new report compiled by the group, three teenagers harm themselves of attempt suicide every hour.

The charity also claims that almost half the population knows someone who has "self-harmed" themselves and the number of young men affected by the problem has doubled in 10 years.