Since 1994 the Samaritans, in association with Befrienders International, use e-mail befriending as an additional means for offering emotional support to those at risk of committing suicide. A message about the service is posted on one of the Internet user-group “bulletin boards” along with an anonymous address option. They receive about 350 contacts a month. A higher percentage of e-mailers discuss their suicidal feelings than do so on the telephone & the messages are more direct, raw, intense.